An example of functional communication training is as follows:

A child may always tend to grab people upon greeting.  It is possible that he/she likes the sensory input he/she gets from squeezing that person. It is also possible that they are not aware that this is an inappropriate response.  A functional equivalent to this greeting may be a hug or a firm handshake.  Another example could be that the child may like to go outside when he/she is home. However, currently, he/she may pull or push the adult to the door. A functional and more conventional way of communicating this behavior can be provided to the child by having him/her use a picture icon or sign or say "outside."