Building Interactive Social Communication With Young Children: An Early Intervention Framework for Addressing Autism and Other Developmental Concerns

How can early intervention providers help families support the social communication of young children with developmental needs?

Empower families and transform your practice with the Building Interactive Social Communication (BISC) framework. This research-based approach is designed specifically for children under age 3 who show emerging signs of autism or other developmental concerns. By focusing exclusively on preverbal social communication within the child’s natural environment, BISC helps early intervention providers foster authentic engagement without usurping the essential role of the parent.

Moving beyond highly structured or intensive behavioral models, BISC prioritizes the parent-child relationship as the primary venue for learning. Through a library of video examples and developmentally sequenced implementation guides, providers learn to serve as expert consultants who support caregivers in generating their own original ideas tailored to their family's unique cultural and linguistic preferences. This flexible, family-friendly approach minimizes the burden on caregivers by integrating learning into naturally occurring everyday interactions.

Fully compatible with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), this book provides a comprehensive framework of 20 units across seven developmentally sequenced topics. Whether you are a developmental generalist or specialist (e.g., speech-language or occupational therapist), this framework provides the practical tools, theoretical rationale, and research grounding needed to strengthen social engagement in very young children.

Key Features of the BISC Framework:

• Relationship-Centered Social Learning: Focuses on the core social communication challenges of autism and related concerns by nurturing the parent-child relationship in the home setting.
• Mediated Learning Process: Uses a non-directive process that empowers caregivers to apply concepts flexibly rather than following rigid, professionally designed activities.
• Developmentally Sequenced Curriculum: Includes 20 units across 7 topics―including social looking, social reciprocity, and joint attention―to advance child engagement.
• Extensive Multimedia Library: Provides access to video examples of parents taking the lead role in mediating their children’s progress toward learning targets.
• IDEA Compliance: Fully compatible with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, supporting parent learning in natural environments.

Hannah H. Schertz is a professor of special education and researcher at Indiana University, Bloomington. Kathryn Horn has over 3 decades of experience as a teacher, early interventionist, and parent of a son with autism.