Have you completed the Way to Play workshop?

Glossary

Find descriptions of some of the words and phrases used throughout the site related to the Autism spectrum and the Way to Play workshop.
Jump to:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

A

Title

Definition

Adult style refers to being the guide, making yourself interesting, encouraging eye contact, reducing prompting and having confidence
Affect The emotion that leads the interaction
Attunement The sharing of attention when you are both entirely focused on each other. Emotions are attuned with each other.

B

Title

Definition

Being the guide Knowing what to ignore and what to pay attention to - knowing what the child is interested in and being able to move it forward. Being the guide means "thinking on your feet"

D

Title

Definition

Dark alley Analogy used to explain how children with autism may be feeling anxious

E

Title

Definition

Engaged Anytime when the child is interacting and responding.
Engagement The backwards and forwards interacting and responding of two people

I

Title

Definition

Imitation Observing someone else act in a certain way and then using that observation to try it out
Interaction Another word for engagement. Two or more people are communicating verbally or non verbally
Intonation The stress that is placed on words to help make their meaning clearer

J

Title

Definition

Jim Sinclair An adult with Autism - google "Don't mourn for us."
Joint attention Two people share attention with each other and something else, purely for a social reason

M

Title

Definition

Making yourself Interesting Exaggerating body language and intonation, using emotion
Memory catchphrase Like an advertising jingle, that reminds you of something. Used here to remind of joyful interaction

P

Title

Definition

Pattern A repeated set of actions

S

Title

Definition

Same same and change seesaw A way of examining each of our daily situations
Shared attention Two people look at each other to share eye gaze, smiles, laughter and gestures
Social motivation Wanting to be with people

T

Title

Definition

Thinking on your feet Looking for where the next pattern will come from and deciding what part you will take and what part the child will take

V

Title

Definition

Variation Slight changes to the pattern
Vocalisations The sounds that people make that often come before words are used