Communication supports in residential services for people with an intellectual disability

Abstract

Accessible summary• Support staff were asked what were the important things they did to support people with an intellectual disability and communication difficulties. • Support staff said that they understood that facilitating people to communicate effectively could improve the quality of life of these people. • However, support staff said they did not always have the training or resources to provide this support. • Support staff need to learn more about how to support people with an intellectual disability and ensure their right to communicate is upheld. SummaryThis study explores front-line staff knowledge and perceptions of how people with intellectual disability residing in residential services are supported to communicate effectively. Participants (n = 138) completed a self-report questionnaire adapted from an instrument developed by DeSimone & Cascella (2005) Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 17(1): 1. Support staff recognise that facilitating people with an intellectual disability to communicate is an important part of their role. Support staff indicate that when the importance of supporting communication is recognised and prioritised, it has a marked impact on the quality of life of people availing of residential services. However, front-line staff indicate that they do not always have the knowledge or resources to provide such supports. Lack of specialist support services such as speech and language therapists is identified as a constraint. It is suggested that an organization-wide commitment is required across front-line services to ensure that the right of people with an intellectual disability to communicate is upheld.

How adults with a profound intellectual disability engage others in interaction

“…Surveys of staff show that they are of course aware that they have communication difficulties with their clients (Dalton and Sweeney 2013), in part because, as experienced commentators observe, 'staff supporting people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities are often left to their own devices' (Mansell and Beadle Brown 2012: 14). Staff will have no formal guidance on recognising that they cannot use what works on neuro-typical adults, and must find other ways of communicating with people with SPID (Finlay et al 2008a).…”

Nurses’ representations of caring for intellectually disabled patients and perceived needs to ensure quality care

“…When seeking healthcare services, patients themselves have reported discrepancies in the approach of different professionals (Edward et al . ), while professionals frequently cite interdisciplinary communication difficulties as a barrier to more accessible care (Wallace & Beange , Dalton & Sweeney ). At times, patients perceive unhelpful attitudes from staff, as well as indirect or infantilising communication and physical or verbal force.…”

Revisiting the Mosaic of Supports Required for Including People with Severe Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities in their Communities

“…The remaining 91.4% -a significant proportion (48.7%) of whom had severe/profound IDD -used only gestures or body language as their primary communication modality. This suggests that a very large percentage of adults with IDD who are unable to speak do not have consistent access to appropriate communication aids or devices -a fi nding that was also supported in a recent British study (Dalton & Sweeney, 2011). This might account, at least in part, for the fact that the challenging behavior outcomes reported by Lakin et al (2011) and Kozma et al (2009) were quite mixed, as the inverse relationship between communicationparticularly via AAC -and challenging behavior reduction is well established (Walker & Snell, 2013).…”