ABSTRACT
The potpourri of information is presented to retain some of the interactive quality of the Bittersweet Farms Conference. Members of the audience raised questions at various periods throughout the conference. Sign language has been used in a variety of populations of nonverbal children and adults, and there have been successful interventions moving people from nonverbal to more verbal communication using sign language. Natural gestures are used in all situations to augment spoken language; speech is accompanied by pointing, gestures and demonstrations. Pictures are very valuable for cuing procedures in the agricultural program, or templates in the barn where things can be sorted and put away correctly. The University of Toledo’s Department of Special Education and Bittersweet Farms offer a unique graduate preparation and training program leading to either a Master’s or Doctorate degree for educators interested in teaching children, youth, or adults with autism.
