If you are a support worker offering disability care to the people with disability, it is absolutely important to have expressive communication strategies to understand their needs. A good communication with the care giver is one the key factors behind the improving health of a participant as they have little efforts to make themselves expressed.
Here as a disability care provider, we will be discussing several communication strategies that looks to improve interactions between carers and care receivers in a more meaningful and empathetic way. Moreover, it should contribute in establishing an immediate support for the carer and build a long-lasting relationship with the individual he/she is taking care of.
- Non-Verbal Communication
Understanding the non-verbal communication is quite essential to interact with people with disability, especially with those having complete verbal impairment or having limited verbal ability. Observing and interpreting the facial expression, body language or even the eye movement of the individual can be meaningful to understand what they are trying to say. These cues often act as clues about their feelings and requirement.
At this, a carer should develop the necessary skills and ability to interpret these non-verbal signs. Once a carer achieves this, this would open up a more empathetic and attached communication environment for the individual with disability.
- Encouraging & Positive Environment for Communication
The effectiveness of communication also largely depends on the environment where the interaction is taking place. Creating a safe, supportive and distraction-free environment promotes better interactions. Maintaining clear eye contact, using simple gestures along with showing patience, care and respect can help create an encouraging environment for the individual with disability where he/she can express himself/herself more freely and with more confidence.
Moreover, choosing a place with less background noise and minimum disruptions for communicating can help individual with disability to focus on communication. This is especially important for the individuals with cognitive impairment who find it difficult to concentrate in a noisy and chaotic setting. A calm and serene environment can surely help them focus more on interaction.
- Assistive Communication Tools
Assistive communication tools can play significant roles to enable an individual with disability to express more efficiently. These tools may include picture boards, voice amplifying devices and text-to-speech generators. Using right communicative device while interacting with individual with disability can improve their thoughts and feelings and make them feel confident to voice their words.
- Professional Training For Communicative Skill Development
Carers taking care of a person with disability must be professionally trained in order to develop effortless communication. The training may include practical AV classes, learning of latest assistive communication technologies, use of latest tools and more alike. All these educational opportunities help enhance the skill of communication for the carer and make him/her knowledgeable enough to connect empathically with the person with disability.
Moreover, professional developmental programs such as organising ‘empathetic communication classes or workshops on assistive communication technologies can potentially provide a support worker with more personalised support. However, the rate of success may depend on the quality of training the carer receives along with the commitment level of the carer him/herself.
- Personalised Communication Technique For Individual Needs
If you are a carer, its better to keep in mind that customising communication methods is quite important in disability care. This is because every person with disability may have their own unique requirements and may not respond well to ‘one-size-fit-all’ interaction approach.
That’s why as a care giver you must possess a deep understanding of each person’s unique needs and find out the unique way of communication, they response well.
Effective Communication Tips
Person with Physical Disability
- Always try to communicate with a person with a disability using an age-appropriate tone & voice.
- Remember that a physically impaired person may have attachments with their wheelchair or crutches. So, you should not touch their wheelchair, crutches, or walking stick without their permission.
- If a person with a physical disability is accompanied by some other person, you should still speak directly to him/her. This would make them feel included.
- Maintaining eye contact is quite important while communicating. That’s why when communicating with someone sitting in a wheelchair, try to sit or squat so that you can maintain steady eye contact.
- Try to avoid negative or discouraging words or phrases as much as possible.
Person With Visual Impairment
- When communicating with a visually challenged person, always try addressing them by their name and start your interaction by introducing yourself.
- Unlike others, visually impaired personas can’t understand visual gestures. So, make sure you verbally express all your thoughts, emotions or feelings.
- When entering or exiting a room, always notify the person about your presence or disappearance.
- Communicate with simple and normal voice.
Person With A Hearing Disability
- Person with hearing impairment usually rely on lip-reading. That’s why face the person in-front so that they can read your lip and keep eye contact.
- Try to communicate in natural tone and in short sentences. Avoid speaking too fast or too slow. Give them ample time to read your mouth.
- Don’t exaggerate the movement of your mouth as it can make it harder for them to read your lips.
Person With an Intellectual Disability
- When you are about to start communicating, do make sure to have the individual’s attention beforehand. Try calling them by name and make eye contact.
- People with intellectual disability are sensitive to complex thoughts. That’s why keep your communication language simple and lucid.
- As intellectually disabled people rely on visual cues more, it is important to use appropriate body language before them.
- It is important to be direct and specific while talking to them. Do not use abstracts, metaphors, acronyms, or puns as these can only make them perplexed and confused.
As one of the leading NDIS providers in Sydney, OSAN Ability caters for a wide range of disability care services. Our support workers are professionally trained to understand the needs of the participants and take special communicative approach while interacting with an individual with disability.
Contact us for your requirement. Our cordial team is here to assist you with the most compassionate care you deserve.
