The purpose of this study was to investigate the acquisition and generalization of mode interchange skills in people with severe aphasia. The experiment had three phases. In the first, three subjects were trained to acquire gestures for and to draw items used in the experiment. In the second phase, subjects were trained to change the communication mode, that is, drawing to gesture or gesture to drawing, in a 'request' situation using a single-subject design. The third phase was a probe for generalization. Subjects acquired both gestures and drawings, however none used these mode interchange skills spontaneously and needed additional training using prompt signs to signal mode interchange. Further the responses of communication partners were noted to determine the use of mode interchange skills. To increase non-verbal communication flexibility, it appeared to be important that partners wait for another response by the subject and thus provide the subject with an opportunity to use the mode interchange skills.