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Supporting and Understanding Communication

Communication is the most complex human skill. It is the way we understand the world, express ourselves as individuals, make choices, develop relationships, build trust and control our lives. In this module, the renowned speech and language specialist, Sue Thurman, provides a comprehensive and straightforward introduction to the subject.

 

This module features presentations from a range of leading professionals and self-advocates, including Dave Hingsburger, Lynda Kahn, Kathie Snow, Jack Pearpoint, Simon Haywood, Brad Goldman, Steve Dymond, and Margaret Cushen.

 

On successful completion of this module, learners will be able to:

 

  • Define communication.
  • Describe the personal, social, and physical barriers to communication and the potential impact of these barriers.
  • Explain the importance of communication.
  • Understand the different ways people can communicate, including without words and your role in using the different forms of communication.
  • Describe in detail a wide variety of approaches that use alternative and augmentative communication.
  • Define how you can use your role to support good communication.

 

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DOES YOUR TONE OF VOICE CHANGE?

http://youtu.be/IkLEpi9AAHI

Are you training staff that are new to the field? Check out our module “Introduction to Your Role”. This module , written by David Pitonyak, provides the perfect platform to embed understanding, respect, and person-centered values. Having spent most of his career working with people who are said to exhibit “difficult behaviors”, Pitonyak explains that most people exhibit difficult behaviors because they are misunderstood and/or because they are living lives that don’t make sense.  “Introduction to Your Role” is a great module to help your new and experienced training staff help the people they support better.

This module offers a succinct introduction to the role of the support staff person, and therefore is a great starting place for new employees and people who are new to the field.

This module includes video presentations from Lynda Kahn, Gary Kent, Sam Sly, Dave Hingsburger, David Hasbury, Simon Haywood, Marc Tumeinski, Beth Mount, Bernard Carabello, Simon Duffy, and Margaret Cushen.

On successful completion of this module, learners will be able to:

– Define and describe a developmental disability and its causes.

– Describe other commonly associated conditions.

– Explain how a developmental disability can impact the person’s life.

– Describe a range of experiences that impact the person’s life including segregation, congregation, negative perception and treatment, socal devaluation, loneliness, poor health, poverty and abuse.

– Explain the importance of the person’s history and the involvement of their family.

– Define John O’Brien’s five valued experiences and explain how they can support a good and meaningful life.

– Using the Code of Ethics developed by the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals you will be able to explain the purpose of the following concepts and how they refer to your role:

person-centered support

promoting physical and emotional well-being

integrity and responsibility

confidentiality

respect

justice, fairness, and equity

relationships

self determination

To ask questions or for information about our free trial please email hello@openfuturelearning.org

 

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Autism and Sensory Processing

In our new module “Autism and Sensory Processing” we use a series of interactive films and activities to help your staff understand how their own sensory processing system works. This module expands on the learning provided in our module “Autism“. Understanding and gaining insight into your processing system takes time and effort.  Understanding someone else’s requires really careful observation, imagination, and empathy. With the aid of experts, Judith North and Simon Haywood, you will learn how your processing works and in turn we will teach you how to better understand and assist the processing realities of the people you support.

 

Watch this great excerpt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHwbFjObpPo

 On successful completion of this module, your staff will be able to:

– Explain what processing is.

– Describe the strengths and limitations of their own processing system.

– Understand why processing and processing difference matter when working with people who have autism.

– Gain insight and understanding into the experiences and challenges of people living with processing difference in a world that is insufficiently aware and adapted to accommodate it.

– Refreame some “challenging behavior” as strategies for managing difficult (sometimes unbearable) processing challenges.

– Reflect on the life choices made by people who experience processing difference and how these need to be understood and supported.

Module length: 90 minutes

Learn more about all of our modules here.