The book presents approaches to nurturing communicative abilities in people with a communication impairment. It looks at a range of approaches, including intensive interaction, co-creative communication, sensory integration and music therapy, for people with a wide range of impairments including autism and dementia.

1. Introduction: Bridging a Spectrum of Communicative Impairments. M. Suzanne Zeedyk, University of Dundee, UK. Origins of Communication. 2. Intuition for Human Communication. Colwyn Trevarthen, University of Edinburgh, UK. 3. The Universality of Musical Communication. Raymond A. R. MacDonald, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. Communicative Impairments. 4. The Use of Imitation with Children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder: Foundations for Shared Communication. Michelle B. O'Neill, Martyn C. Jones and M. Suzanne Zeedyk, University of Dundee, UK. 5. Sharing Communicative Landscapes with Congenitally Deafblind People: It's a walk in the park! Paul Hart, Sense Scotland. 6. Using Imitation to Establish Channels of Communication with Institutionalised Children in Romania: Bridging the Gap. Clifford E. Davies, M. Suzanne Zeedyk, Sarah Walls, Naomi Betts and Sarah Parry. 7. Developing Relationships with People with Profound Learning Disabilities through Intensive Interaction. Dr Pete Coia, Wakefield Psychological Service, UK and Angela Jardine Handley. 8. A New Approach to Communicating with People with Advanced Dementia:A Case Study of Adaptive Interaction. Maggie P. Ellis and Arlene J. Astell, University of St Andrews, UK. A Closer Look at Interventions. 9. Video Interaction Guidance: A Bridge to Better Interactions for Individuals with Communication Impairments. Hilary Kennedy, University of Dundee, UK and Heather Sked. 10. Sensory Integration: From Spinning to Sitting, from Sitting to Smiling. Jane Horwood, Private Practitioner. 11. Intensive Interaction: Getting in Touch with a Child with Severe Autism. Phoebe Caldwell, Private Practitioner.