Talking Together: Conversational Skills Course for Autistic Teens
A Parent-Supported Coaching Program to Help Your Teen Build Confident Communication
Created by a Licensed SLP
Evidence-Based Strategies
Self-Paced Learning
Designed for Families
Talking Together: A Parent-Supported Conversational Skills Coaching Program for Autistic Adolescents
Talking Together is a self-paced online course created by licensed speech-language pathologist, Dr. Shivani Patel, for autistic teenagers and the parents who will coach them.
The course combines practical instruction, real-world examples, guided home practice, and parent-friendly strategies that can be used during daily activities and interactions.
Unlike general social communication advice, this program is designed specifically for helping autistic teens develop their social skills and improve their communication skills.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for autistic teens ages 10-18 years and the parents or caregivers who want to support conversational growth at home.
Talking Together may be a good fit if your child:
Finds it hard to start or end conversations
Struggles to expand on their thoughts and ideas
Has difficulty keeping a conversation going
Wants to connect & make friends but feels uncertain
Feels anxious, stuck, or overwhelmed in conversations
Is unsure of being in social environments
This course is also for parents who want practical strategies they can use without needing a clinical background.
Course Curriculum & Conversational Modules
A simple, step-by-step course designed to help autistic teens improve their conversational skills with the support of a trusted parent or caregiver.
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Get oriented to the program, understand how to use it as a caregiver-adolescent team, and set the foundation for the communication growth you'll build together.
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Discover how to find the right balance of information to share your thoughts and experiences.
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Learn how to use questions to keep conversations going.
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Learn how to keep conversations going by making comments.
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We’ll discuss the different ways people might convey interest and disinterest in a conversation. Try some out yourself to see what feels good to you and learn how to get around the things that don’t feel authentic.
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Build real confidence in those crucial first moments. Learn practical strategies for starting a conversation that feels comfortable and natural.
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Learn how to wrap up gracefully — recognizing the right moment, using warm and authentic closing phrases, and leaving interactions on a positive note.
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Zoom out from the individual skills to the bigger picture: how the conversations you've been practicing translate into real, meaningful friendships.
Frequently Asked Questions
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It is a self-paced video course designed for parents and caregivers of autistic adolescents (ages 10–18). This course gives families the tools to support real-world conversational growth at home.
This program was designed by speech-language pathologist Shivani Patel, PhD, CCC-SLP for motivated adolescents seeking to enhance their conversational skills with the support of caregivers who are willing to learn alongside them.
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The conversational coaching program, Talking Together, is $397 — a one-time payment for full access to everything.
Families who join the waitlist get founding member pricing of $297, along with one-week early access, and a Founding Families Q&A where I answer your submitted questions directly in a recorded video.
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Your access doesn't expire — one payment, and the program is yours to work through and return to at whatever pace fits your family. You may choose to revisit modules months later as new situations come up: a new school year, a first job interview, a friendship that's deepening. The course is built to be a resource you come back to.
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No, this is not speech therapy. This is a coaching program. I teach you — the parent/caregiver and adolescent — the conversational skills and framework that I use in my practice. However, this program isn't a replacement for speech-language therapy, mental-health care, or other services your adolescent currently receives. This coaching program can work beautifully alongside those services.
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Built by a clinician and researcher. This coaching course is grounded in evidence-based, speech-language pathology practice.
Neurodiversity-affirming from the ground up. We teach conversation skills as tools — not scripts. Your child keeps their authentic voice. The goal is connection, not conformity.
Designed for families, not just adolescents. The research is clear: when parents are active participants in communication support, outcomes are significantly better. This course sets you up for success through collaboration.
Practical and specific. Each module teaches a concrete, usable skill. By the end, parents/caregivers and adolescents will know exactly what to do — not just what to think about.
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Adolescents who:
are between the ages of 10-18 years old
are diagnosed with autism or related social communication differences
have grossly age-appropriate or mildly delayed receptive and expressive language differences
want to enhance their conversational skills and confidently connect with others
Parents or Caregivers who:
want to actively support their child at home
believe their teen's authentic voice deserves to be heard — not masked or scripted away
*This course is not appropriate for non-speaking adolescents or those with significant cognitive differences.
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The course includes 8 modules. Plan on about an hour per module. Each module includes a few instructional videos under 10 minutes long, as well as role-play demonstrations and practice exercises. One module per week is the pacing I recommend, which makes it about a two-month journey. The course is fully self-paced though, so if you need more time, take it!
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Yes! You'll watch most videos together, and each module ends with a practice task built for the two of you. You, the caregiver/parent, are the coach: you create everyday practice moments, cue gently, and celebrate effort. Your adolescent is the learner doing the brave work. Some sections speak directly to caregivers and some directly to teens, and the course tells you which is which.
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This course is an educational program rather than a billed therapy service, so it is not billable to insurance.
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Try the first two modules. If within 14 days of purchase, you've given it an honest start and it isn't the right fit for your family, email us and we'll refund you in full. I'd rather you find the right support than keep the wrong purchase.
Important Note: This course is educational and coaching-based. It is not a substitute for individualized speech-language therapy, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your teen needs individualized communication support, a licensed speech-language pathologist can provide an evaluation and personalized recommendations.