Communication and Individual Support Planning
Jennie Heidrick | Rooted in Care Consulting, LLC.
Lindsay Dutton | The Arc Oregon
Communication Matters
Communication is key to planning. It helps people plan together and share hopes, dreams, and desires. When a person’s communication is supported, the plan is more likely to reflect who they are and what they hope for.
People communicate in many ways . We might talk, write, sign, or show things with our body or actions. Communication goes both ways—it is about how a person shares information (expressive communication) and how they understand it (receptive communication). Sometimes supporting communication takes extra time or creative thinking. That extra time and creativity is essential! It helps planning happen in a way that works for the person.
Tips for Planning
Planning can be challenging when there are barriers to communication. Most people would be frustrated if others didn’t understand them, made assumptions about what they understood, or weren’t taking the time to listen.
If you are a supporter, there are many ways to prepare for a planning meeting:
- Learn and understand the person’s communication. This includes facial expressions, gestures, actions, and body language. The Communication Chart can help others understand the person’s communication. It helps others know how to best support the person in different situations.
- Use communication tools. This could be as simple as a letter or picture board or as complex as a computer-based system. If considering assistive technology, the AT discussion tool can be a great place to start.
- Listen to the person and encourage sharing. For example, if pictures help a person understand information, have photos ready. What else helps the person feel comfortable sharing?
If you have an ISP, there are many ways to prepare for your meeting:
- Share with your team how you best communicate. You could build a one-page “communication profile” or get together with your team before your meeting to share what works best for you.
- Have a meeting agenda. You could create it yourself or ask your team to help. You can add “communication checkpoints”. These are times to ask questions and make sure everything has been shared in a way that works for you.
- Make a list of things that are important to you. It could be handwritten, typed, or even a collage of pictures. You can share this list with your team.
Visit our website for more tools and resources for planning!
About the term "non-verbal"
Sometimes, when a person does not use words to communicate, they are referred to as “non-verbal.” Unfortunately, this term can lead to assumptions about the person. Others may assume that the person does not understand. They might assume the person is not able to plan. They could assume that this person cannot make their own decisions.
When we hear the term “non-verbal” used to describe someone, what else might we say? Shifting away from this language can challenge assumptions. For example, instead of saying “Francine is non-verbal,” you could say “Francine communicates by using gestures and some ASL.” The second statement helps us understand how Francine communicates. It may help others see Francine as someone who is able to plan and share her own perspective.
Jordyn Zimmerman is a disability and education advocate. She has first hand experience with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). She is also the subject of the recent documentary, This Is Not About Me. In an article that discusses the documentary, Jordyn states:
“Inclusion means everyone participating together and feeling a sense of belonging. Successful inclusion isn’t about everyone doing the same thing or doing everything perfectly, but people share the same outcome—though, how they get there may be different. The entire community must collaborate and embrace this idea.” (Des Roches Rose, 2021)