Positive Behaviour Support - Department of Human Services - Vic ...

42 Positive behaviour support: Getting it right from the start - Facilitators reference manual
PowerPoint 62*
For example, a person who isn’t feeling well and is unable to communicate may show behaviours
of concern when it is their turn to do the washing up. If the behaviour brings about a response
from others that meets the person’s need they may use that behaviour again and again to get the
same response (desired outcome).
Communication is a shared responsibility
PowerPoint 60*
‘A communication disability does not just belong to the individual. It belongs to the entire
environment of which the person is the focal point’ Sandwell, Communication Aids Centre
United Kingdom
A collaborative approach looks not only at the person with complex communication needs
and their communication skills, but at the strategies that COMMUNICATION PARTNERS need
to use to help make communication successful. Communication partners can support people
with complex communication needs more effectively if they are familiar with augmentative
communication strategies and know how to use them.
PowerPoint 61 We all share the responsibility for:
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• valuing each person’s unique way of communicating
• understanding how each person communicates
• being responsive to people’s communication
• learning how to communicate more effectively with people with complex communication
needs
• allowing people the opportunity to have their say
• assisting people to participate in social interactions and activities and be included in the
community.
How can you model these responsibilities in the workplace?
The need for effective communication
Helping people to communicate improves their quality of life. It improves their opportunities,
education, social life, friendships and independence.
People with disabilities show great differences in their ability to communicate. Some may have
functional speech with a good grasp of language forms. Some may be limited in their use of
grammatical structures and have a small but useful vocabulary. These people will use spoken
communication as their main form of communication.
The majority may use only the odd word or two or may use gestures and vocalisations. These
people may need assistance in developing other forms of communication, such as using signs,
symbols or a communication board. These other forms of communication are collectively known
as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).