Connect- the communication disability
network
Mission statement“Supporting people with
aphasia to find opportunity and
fulfilment, helping them to re-
connect with life through peer-led opportunities.”
• A charity working with people with aphasia• Set up in 2000 by two Speech Therapists
– Wanted to address the lack of long-term services
• Peer-led ethos– Run by people with aphasia for others with
aphasia. Supported by staff and volunteers without aphasia.
Background
• People with aphasia direct and influence Connect’s work
• Connect’s work is underpinned by the social model of disability
Background
Conversations
How to be a better conversation partner
Therese Mathers London Development Coordinator
• Completed work with good communication access for people with Alzheimers, dementia and end- of- life.
• Providing support for Primary Progressive Aphasia (a type of dementia)
• Can work with anyone who knows more than they can say
Approach goes beyond aphasia…
Conversation – what is it?
Conversation – what is it?
• 2 way• 2 (or more) people• Listening and talking• Everyday• Spontaneous – not planned• Opinions and ideas• Fun, enjoyment• Way to Connect
Conversations + communication impairment
What’s the difference?•Difficulties talking•Difficulties understanding•Stop and start•Slower•Not just speech
Conversations…What’s the same?•2 people•2 way•Both people have responsibility to make it work (?)•About information, opinions, personality, fun, spontaneity•A willingness to Connect
Conversation research
Good conversation partners
Bad conversation partners
With barriers to communication …
• Both people need to work harder
• Both people need to change
• Both people need to be smart, think more
Conversation barriersWhat gets in the way of
better conversations?• Stress• Time pressure• Just focusing on speech• Lack of respect• Don’t know best way to
help
Features of bad conversation partners
Don’t believe in person’s intelligence
Not enough timeNot enough propsToo much focus on speech not on having
a good conversation
Features of good conversation partners…
They believe the person with aphasia is intelligent
Keep conversation adult, natural, balanced
They use conversation ramps flexibly, e.g. pen and paper, pictures, time
Helping the person understand:
• Use Pen and paper • Use props: paper, photos, maps etc• Write words down• Gesture, pointing and body language• Drawing pictures • One idea per sentence• Checking you’ve understood • Cut out distractions
Helping the person understand
• Use Pen and paper • Writing – both of you• Pictures, drawings• Use props– maps, newspapers, photos• Asking Questions - general …specific• Stay calm• Silence and extra time
Helping the person get their message across
• ‘Better conversations’• ‘Including people with
communication disability in research’• ‘The communication
access toolkit
• www.ukconnect.org
• ‘Caring and Coping’• Good Goal setting
guidelines
Communication training at Connect
Resources and tools developed with people with stroke and aphasia• Resources and tools developed with people
with stroke and aphasia to ensure genuine user involvement in Service Development e.g.– Props and resources to support conversation– Stroke and aphasia handbook– Aphasia Impact Questionnaire
Communication access• From July this year, the Accessible Information Standard is going to
be a mandatory, legal requirement to ensure that all NHS and Adult Social Care information, services and work is accessible to all.
• It explains how organisations should adapt their information to make sure that disabled patients receive information in formats that they can understand and receive the support they need to help them to communicate.
• Connect will be working with organisations that are looking to implement the Standard. Working in collaboration with people with aphasia means that Connect can offer training and advice.
Contact [email protected]
City Lit - Adult Education
Galleries
National PortraitGallery
Tate Modern
Theatre
Disabled led theatre
company
• ExtantTheatre company led by
people with visual impairment
Dance
• Saddlers Wells
• Royal opera House
• The Place
• Candoco
U3A –University of the 3rd Age• “learning for pleasure”
• Educational, creative and leisure opportunities
• Local U3As = Self-help organisation
• The teachers learn and the learners teach.
• over 300 different subjects
www.u3a.org.uk
Volunteering
• www.doit.org.uk section on support for
volunteers with disabilities
• www.skill.org.uk Students with
disabilitiesLocal volunteer bureaux