Family resources

Rett Syndrome Communication Guidelines

An international handbook to help families, therapists and educators support communication for people with Rett syndrome — translated by partner associations across the world.

About these guidelines

A practical handbook for everyone supporting communication.

Rett syndrome affects speech, purposeful hand use and coordination, leaving many people understanding far more than they can express. The Communication Guidelines bring together what works — recommendations to help caregivers, therapists and educators recognise communication intent, build vocabulary, and choose the right tools.

The handbook was developed by Gillian S. Townend, Theresa E. Bartolotta, Anna Urbanowicz, Helena Wandin and Leopold M.G. Curfs, coordinated by the Rett Expertise Centre Netherlands-GKC, and made possible by a HeART Grant from the International Rett Syndrome Foundation (Rettsyndrome.org). National translations are coordinated by partner associations and link to country-specific resources where available.

Get the guidelines

Available in your language.

Each tile opens the partner association’s page, where you can read or download the full handbook in that language. References inside each version link to country-specific resources.