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5 %u00a9 Elklan Training Limited 2025Elklan Supporting Gestalt Language Processing %u2013 a Total Communication ApproachSpeech and Language Therapy professional guidelines for supporting GLPsThe Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) has published two relevant sets of guidelines:%u2022 Autism guidance (2023)%u2022 AAC guidance (2024)Regarding the support of autistic individuals, the RCSLT guidance does not give specific reference to Gestalt Language Processing but states %u2018At the centre of our practice, and a requirement for our professional registration, is a commitment to evidence-based practice (EBP); the integration of service user preferences and values, best research evidence and clinical expertise. This requires an SLT to think critically about all sources of information and how it meets the needs and preferences of an autistic person and their family%u2019.The support should:%u2022 %u2018focus on harnessing a person%u2019s strengths, interests and abilities%u2022 aim to provide support and adaptations that affirm an individual%u2019s neurodivergent identity%u2022 be personalised to the needs of that autistic person at that time: no single approach is recommended for all autistic people all the time %u2022 be evidence-based%u2019%u2022 be neuro-affirmingRegarding the use of AAC, the RCSLT AAC guidance does not include any reference to adaptations for Gestalt Language Processors but the guidelines do state that there is %u2018more than one approach to support language and communication development%u2019. Practitioners should adopt a %u2018user-centred, culturally sensitive approach to considering the available evidence for AAC interventions%u2019.This book outlines considerations for AAC to support those identified as using gestalts. Any adaptations have an emphasis on including the child or young person%u2019s interests and their unique and individual ways of communicating.