Avoid Over-Prompting — Support Independence

Prompting is when we help a participant respond—whether it’s verbal or nonverbal—but it’s important to remember that when things are done for someone, the need to communicate is taken away. Initiating is a foundational skill in developing effective communication. By prompting too much or too quickly, we unintentionally reduce the participant’s opportunity to think, try, and grow.

To encourage communication and independence, we follow a “more to less” prompting hierarchy: 

1. Say the full sentence: “Walk on, Valla.” 

2. Cue the participant to repeat: “Tell Valla ‘walk on.’” 

3. Give only the first word: “Walk...” (pause) 

4. Give just the first sound: “W...” (wait) 

5. Ask: “What do you say?”  or simply say: “Ready?”. Wait with an expectant pause, gesture, or eye contact. 

Being patient and giving time for a response can feel uncomfortable—but it’s powerful. Your support helps participants build real, lasting skills. Thank you for helping us create space for growth!