Training materials: Creative Conversations: Communicating with People with Profound Disabilities

CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS: COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE WITH
PROFOUND DISABILITIES
Phoebe Caldwell and Pene Stevens, Pavilion Publishing
ISBN 1841961345, £115

STAR RATING: 4/5

This 35-minute video and accompanying notes introduce the idea of
“intensive interaction”, a method of talking to those with severe
communication problems, writes Sue
Stevens.

The package demonstrates the method with four adults with cerebral
palsy and learning difficulties. But it could also suit those with
little spoken communication because of autism, head injury, stroke
or other conditions where conventional aids are of limited
help.

The two presenters enthuse about the system. They emphasise how
important observation is to help work out the best way of trying to
start a conversation with people with severe problems, taking cues
from them as to whether using sounds, hands, feet or eye movements
is the best approach. The results are obvious, remarkable, and
moving. But the method can also be time-consuming, and some carers
may initially feel embarrassed at echoing sounds, beating the
table, and making rhythmic foot movements to communicate.

The notes could be better organised, but the video is well produced
and the package could be a useful training tool for carers.

Sue Stevens is an adviser to the Royal College of Speech and
Language Therapists