Non-Vocal or Non-Verbal
Hey y'all, I was curious about what other people in our field feel about the term Non-Verbal. I hear it a lot and I think that it is misunderstood and misused.
What I see a lot is this example: A client that uses sign language, picture exchange, AAC, etc. May be called a Non-Verbal learner/client.
Even though they are able to verbally communicate using an alternative mode of communication.
I would call that learner a Non-Vocal learner. Not non-verbal. They can still engage in verbal communication just not vocally. And I think that labeling them as non-verbal opens a can of worms for what others expect and assume of the learner based on their own history of learning.
When I go over this with BTs and parents I use the example of waving to a friend you see down the street. Neither of you are vocalizing but you verbally communicated with each other saying "Hi" nonetheless.
From my understanding the term Non-Verbal comes from the word verbalization. However as behavior analysts shouldn't we be using Skinner's definition of verbal behavior?
Anyways what do you y'all use ? And have any of you ran into a similar situation to this?
( P.S. another great example of why operational definitions are amazing and always needed!)