More Than Words—The Hanen Program for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Teaching Model for Parent-implemented Language Intervention

Abstract

There has been an increased emphasis on caregiver-implemented intervention in the field of early intervention. However, this form of intervention can be effective only if the provider has the skills to teach, scaffold and coach the caregiver within a supportive, collaborative partnership. This article describes More Than Words—The Hanen Program for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, a manualized parent-implemented intervention for groups of parents and caregivers. In this program, the speech-pathologist assumes the role of mediator, utilizing specific techniques and activities based on adult education principles, providing a multifaceted, collaborative learning experience that enables parents to become effective language facilitators for their child.