Natural Environment Teaching for Functional Communication in Children with Speech Delay

Tri Gunadi

doi:10.65101/spedu.v1i4.258

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Published: 2026-04-30

DOI: https://doi.org/10.65101/spedu.v1i4.258

Keywords:

Natural Environment Teaching (NET); Functional Communication; Speech Delay; ABAB Design; Single-Subject Research.

Tri Gunadi

Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0956-1464

Abstract

This study evaluates the efficacy of Natural Environment Teaching (NET) in enhancing functional communication for children with speech delay. Utilizing a rigorous ABAB single-subject experimental design, the investigation focused on a four-year-old male diagnosed with Language Disorder. Results demonstrated a clinically significant elevation in Functional Communication Responses (FCR), with mean frequencies escalating from 2.4 at baseline to 11.4 during the final intervention phase. Visual analysis confirmed a robust functional relationship, supported by 0% data overlap and Non-Overlap of All Pairs (NAP) values between 0.96 and 1.00. Furthermore, the participant exhibited a systematic reduction in prompt dependency and successful generalization of communicative gains to domestic settings and unfamiliar partners. Concomitant decreases in maladaptive behaviors suggest that NET effectively replaces non-verbal topographies with functional verbal repertoires. These findings strongly validate NET as a scalable, ecologically valid intervention model particularly suited for the Indonesian clinical landscape where specialized therapeutic resources remain highly limited.

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Vol. 1 No. 4 (2026): Journal of Smart Pedagogy and Education

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Articles

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Tri Gunadi, Universitas 17 Agustus 1945 Surabaya, Indonesia

Tri Gunadi, A.Md.OT, S.Ked., S.Psi, CH, CHt, CMT.NNLP, AIFO-FIT, Psikolog is a licensed Occupational Therapist and Psychologist, special needs consultant, and the Founder & CEO of Yamet Child Development Center, a leading network of multidisciplinary clinics in Indonesia dedicated to early childhood intervention, developmental assessment, and therapy services. With a strong background in occupational therapy, psychology, and behavioral science, he is deeply committed to supporting children with autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, speech and language disorders, intellectual disabilities, and social-emotional challenges.

Gunadi also leads the Yamet Training Center and Yamet Inclusive School, where he advocates for inclusive education, evidence-based practices, and the professional development of behavior therapists and shadow teachers. He holds national certifications as a Master Assessor (LSK TPIBK) and has actively contributed to developing competency-based training and certification systems in Indonesia.

His primary research interests include child development, neurodiversity, autism intervention, parenting psychology, and the integration of cognitive-behavioral therapy in children with special needs. He has organized numerous conferences and training workshops and is currently pursuing international scholarship opportunities to further expand his impact in special education and disability advocacy at the policy level.

How to Cite

Gunadi, Tri. “Natural Environment Teaching for Functional Communication in Children With Speech Delay”. Journal of Smart Pedagogy and Education, vol. 1, no. 4, Apr. 2026, pp. 22-37, https://doi.org/10.65101/spedu.v1i4.258.

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