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54 %u00a9 Elklan Training Limited 2025Elklan Supporting Gestalt Language Processing %u2013 a Total Communication Approach6.6 SUPPORTING NON-SPEAKING CHILDRENAND YOUNG PEOPLEIn this book and chapter the term %u2018non-verbal%u2019 is not used. Instead, the term %u2018non-speaking%u2019 to describe individuals as currently not speaking is used. The diagram below outlines different reasons why an individual may not speak.Whatever the reason is for a person not speaking, we need to show the individual child or young person respect by NOT speaking over them, about them or for them when we do not know their wants, wishes or needs.6.7 NON-SPEAKING AND AUTISMKoegel et al (2020) describe how there are different definitions for an autistic person%u2019s level of communication. There is an inconsistency in the definition of non-verbal or minimally verbal. Individuals can begin to speak at different ages and stages and language can be developed even though they may not speak. If the term %u2018non-verbal%u2019 is used, this implies a child or young person has no words. We have learnt from autistic individuals who are non-speaking that they do have language which can be very rich and have a wide range of vocabulary. An example of this is written in a book by Diego Pena who is an autistic author and wrote a book at 9 years old. He explains,%u2018Trust me, I want to talk to you. My inability to speak is confused for my intelligence. I do have a voice, I speak with a Talker (my iPad), and I get to share my ability as a thinker like everyone else.%u2019Because the language levels of a non-speaking child or young person may not be known, it is extremely important to adopt the Total Communication Approach so that all means of supporting communication are at the non-speaking individual%u2019s disposal. This includes the adoption of recognising Gestalt Language Processing as part of a Total Communication