W.O.C.E.
WRITTEN OUTPUT COMMUNICATION ENHANCEMENT
Scrittura per lo sviluppo della Comunicazione.

Introduction

Verbal and non verbal communication deficit is considered at the core of the diagnostic criteria by the ASD (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). The scientific community agrees that facilitating the development of  communication in people with non-verbal or with atypical language by means of rehabilitation projects and early intensive interventions, significantly improves the quality of life.
It is known that the system of meaning implies a shared code.
The NRC of USA has underlined the importance of interventions to support communication in the educational program for people who either have  not acquired speech or who have difficulties in processing and understanding spoken language  (NRC 2002). They can benefit from the use of communication boards, sign language, learning of language through computer, reading or other communication tools.
An increasing body of research highlights the importance of stimulating an initiative to communicate.
The acquisition of communication skills has to have place in a context which facilitates development and takes into account the individual functioning and disability, as well as the contextual factors, as defined by the ICF (International Classification of Functioning, disability and health, WHO 2001).

Guidelines 2 - 3