Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Learn about evidence-based support for non-speaking autistic individuals.
Handouts and free certificates of participation are provided upon successful completion of a brief knowledge quiz at: autism.org/research-on-language-use
Since 1990, Connie Kasari, Ph.D., has been on the faculty at UCLA, where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses and has been the primary advisor to more than 70 Ph.D. students. She is a founding member of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLA. Her research aims at the development of novel, evidence-tested interventions implemented in community settings. Recent projects include targeted treatments for early social communication development in at-risk infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with autism, and peer relationships for school-aged children with autism. She has led many multi-site federally funded projects investigating the efficacy of interventions for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. She is on the science advisory board of the Autism Speaks Foundation and regularly presents to both academic and practitioner audiences locally, nationally, and internationally.
Learn about evidence-based support for non-speaking autistic individuals.
Handouts and free certificates of participation are provided upon successful completion of a brief knowledge quiz at: autism.org/research-on-language-use
Since 1990, Connie Kasari, Ph.D., has been on the faculty at UCLA, where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses and has been the primary advisor to more than 70 Ph.D. students. She is a founding member of the Center for Autism Research and Treatment at UCLA. Her research aims at the development of novel, evidence-tested interventions implemented in community settings. Recent projects include targeted treatments for early social communication development in at-risk infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with autism, and peer relationships for school-aged children with autism. She has led many multi-site federally funded projects investigating the efficacy of interventions for children with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. She is on the science advisory board of the Autism Speaks Foundation and regularly presents to both academic and practitioner audiences locally, nationally, and internationally.








![Language and Communication Issues in Autism: Let’s Talk About Talking
This is a joint webinar with the World Autism Organization.
You can take the knowledge quiz here: https://autism.org/language-and-communication-issues-in-autism-lets-talk-about-talking/
Presented by Prof. Olga Bogdashina, Ph.D. - [https://www.youtube.com/@olgabogdashinatalks]
Difficulties with language and communication are one of the defining features of autism. We’ll investigate language peculiarities and development in autism from the perspective of different sensory perceptual processes and cognitive styles; then we can see that autistic (including non-verbal) people do communicate (though sometimes their attempts to transmit information are unnoticed by their non-autistic communicative partners); they do not lack communicative intent but rather often use unconventional means of communication.
To communicate successfully, we have to speak the same language. Teaching autistic children ‘our’ language is not good enough; we have to learn ‘their’ language(s) and communication systems as well.
Prof. Olga Bogdashina, Ph.D. (linguistics), MSc (Psychology), MA (Teaching methods) MA Ed (Autism), Honorary Professor, Honorary Doctor, KSPU, Co-founder of the International Autism Institute, and Programme Leader (Autism courses), Visiting Professor in Autism Studies, author of 9 books that reflect her specific interests in autism research: sensory perceptual issues in autism; language and communication in autism; autism and spirituality.
Having founded the first day centre for autistic children in Gorlovka, Ukraine over 30 years ago, she has ‘lived and breathed autism’ since then. However, before 1988 – she knew absolutely nothing about autism or just how much it would mean to her and change her life. Language and Communication Issues in Autism: Let’s Talk About Talking](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gK5nxoym2qA/mqdefault.jpg)

