Thursday 27 February 2014

My computer - learn to use it in Easy English


A reminder of a resource, which has been available for many years now. A series of training workbooks, developed by Victoria’s VicNet have been popular for many different populations of people.

The workbooks are designed as training manuals, and each manual may take some individual's a number of weeks to work through.  

Although the workbooks are now a number of years old, they are still relevant to today's computer user. A great initiative is the resources have Creative Commons copyright - download the manuals, make changes relevant to your community or computer environment- just acknowledge the original source please!  They are also available in 10 emerging languages.

Some of the topics include:
·         How to use a computer
·         Google maps
·         Working with pictures
·         Skype.
There are 16 different manuals in the series.

Do you want to develop your workbooks or other materials into Easy English?
Contact us at cathy@accesseasyenglsih.com.au or 0466 579 855

I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Cathy

Friday 21 February 2014

Challenging Behaviour and Motivational Interviewing - could it be relevant to other instances?


A new article by Noud Frielink & Petri Embregts explores a technique called Motivational Interviewing in their work with people with mild intellectual disability and challenging behaviour.

Many of the techniques identified in the research would be recognisable to many people working in the field of Intellectual Disability. In fact, the authors do state the themes and subthemes identified are what a Speech Pathologist and other skilled practitioners would say are essential communication techniques for good communication.

Think about this: Motivational Interviewing involves: 
·         open ended questioning;
·         reflective listening;
·         affirming;
·         summarising
·         eliciting change-talk.

The research considered what needs to be modified to ensure this technique works for this population of people. There were 3 subthemes identified - the form of language, the structure of language and its content.  Importantly, the research also identifies characteristics of the interaction partner essential for motivational interviewing to be successful.

 The following techniques were identified:
- use concrete and clear language;
- use short sentences, and query words, (but avoid why questions);
- focus on 1 topic at a time;
 - give the person time to respond. Don't repeat the same question again and again to fill this thinking space.
Clients identified pictures or film segments, role play or a drawing aided their understanding.
In addition, it was critical for the communication partner to observe both verbal and non verbal cues to determine the persons understanding of questions or information in the interaction.

Communication partner characteristics.
Once again, a skilled practitioner would not be surprised by the following list, but it is great to see it stated in the research. Communication partner characteristics important in interactions include:
- mutual trust and relationship;
- equality of input from both communication partners;
- being an active listener;
- being authentic and honest, including showing empathy and compassion, when appropriate;
- the client is seen as an individual, and not just 'part of a group’;
- respect for the client as a person; and,
 - there are concrete and clear agreements and rules in place for the interaction.

Finally, an important point to consider is people with intellectual disability and other disabilities can respond based on social desirability - that is, what they think the communication partner wants to hear.  To be an active member of society, clients, need to be supported to be active participants in their own environments.

When else could this technique be used? Are plans developed for people with intellectual disability and other disabilities in the new National Disability Insurance Agency www.ndis.gov.au using these good communication and interaction skills? Are planners and others being active listeners? 

Talk to Cathy about how these essential communication skills can be incorporated into daily activities in the persons environments. 

Cathy

0466 579 855

Reference:
Frielink, N., & Embregts, P. (2013) Modification of motivational interviewing for use with people with mild intellectual disability and challenging behaviour. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 2013 Vol. 38, No. 4, 279. Downloaded 20 February 2014. www.informahealthcare.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/13668250.2013.809707

Monday 17 February 2014

Is technology really communication?


The Forum Note by Janice Light and David McNaughton in the latest journal from Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention has a timely reminder about what we are all doing, and why we are doing it.

Technology abounds in all areas of our lives now, and yes it can make life much easier. However, we need to remember, it is "just a tool".

The tool needs to - meet the needs of the individual;
                             - meet the needs of the persons environment and communication                                  situations;
                             - be able to be supported by the environment, i.e. do people who                                    interact with the person with AAC
    -  know how to use the technology (and they are not afraid of the technology)
    - know how to maintain the technology,
     - keep the technology up to date, and 
     - even remembering to charge it! ready for use.

But, the tool does not make the communication.  Communication happens between 2 or more people.
Rather than chasing the latest app or latest software or hardware - ask yourself....
- will the communication interaction make the difference?
- can support staff, family and others be supported with more skills and knowledge and experience with interaction;
- does the person who needs AAC support have things to talk about, and things he/she wants to talk about?
- is there time in the day to communicate with the person with AAC?

All the pieces of the puzzle need to come together to enhance a persons’ communication.

Talk to Cathy about how to improve the communication environment to support the person who uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication.

Reference
Janice Light & David McNaughton. Putting People First: Re-Thinking the Role of Technology in Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention
December 2013, Vol. 29, No. 4 , Pages 299-30. www.informahealthcare.com

Cathy
0466 579 855


Tuesday 11 February 2014

My Choice Expo and Easy English resources

Thanks to the many people who came and chatted to me during the day at the My Choice Expo run by VALID www.valid.org.au

It was great to see so much interest in Easy English, where to find current resources, and also how to begin to implement within organisations.

I had a Powerpoint of some national and international resources . Links to some of the more talked about ones are below. If I have missed something you wanted a link to, let me know.



1. Office of the Public Advocate, Victoria                                                               www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au/publications/431/

2. Change People, UK       
   www.changepeople.org/buy-our-resources/
   and their free resources     
    www.changepeople.org/free-resources/

3. Special Girls Business and Special Boys Business, South Australia        www.secretgb.com/products

4. Books without Words, UK   
www.booksbeyondwords.co.uk/sites/default/files/bw2013Catalogue_web.pdf

5. Feeling Safe, Being Safe US        
www.brcenter.org/lib/lib_pdf/SP_IN_FSBS_Worksheet_EN.pdf  
and
www.brcenter.org/lib/lib_pdf/SP_IN_FSBS_Magnet_EN.pdf

Cathy
cathy@accesseasyenglish.com.au
www.accesseasyenglish.com.au
0466 579 855