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AcquiredBrainInjuryAutismandAspergersHearingImpairmentIntellectualDisabilityLearningDifficulties MentalHealthConditionPhysicalDisabilityVisionImpairment

Thisinformationhasbeensourcedfrom:

MakeItHappenSeries–HostEmployerInformationWorkbook,createdbytheNationalDisabilityCoordinationProgram,University ofTasmania.

Authors: Beth Gibbings & DarleneMcLennan

PhysicalDisabilityVision Impairment

Communicationstrategies

•Whencommunicatingwithapersonwithanacquiredbraininjuryitisimportant to acknowledge thateachpersonisanindividualandshouldbeapproachedassuch.

•Alwaysremembertokeepyourvoicetonelowandunhurried.

•Givethepersonanopportunitytotalk.Maketimeforthem.

•Speakclearlyanduseshorter,cleardirectsentencestobemoreeasilyunderstood.

•Explainacronymsordonotusethem atall.

•Provideregularbreaksifrequiredtoreducetheeffectsoffatigue.

•Ifthepersonhasmemoryproblemsinformationmayneedtoberepeated.

•Physicallydemonstrateconceptsratherthansimplyexplaining.

•Askquestionstoensurethepersonunderstands.

•Alwaysprovideopportunitiesfor questionsandprovidefurtherinformation.

FACT SHEET: Acquired BrainInjury

DisabilityOverview

AcquiredBrainInjury(ABI)referstoatypeofinjurytothebrainthatresultsindeteriorationofcognitive,physical,emotionalorindependentfunctioningthathappensafterbirth.

AcquiredBrainInjury(ABI)canoccurastheresultoftraumatothebrainfrommotorvehicleaccidents,fallsandassaults,orfromnon-traumatic(internal)causessuchasstrokes,tumours,aneurysms,infections,poisoningandothersituationswhenthebraindoesnotgetenoughblood oroxygen.

PeoplewhohaveanABImaybeaffectedinavarietyofways,including:

•Cognitive

•Sensory

•Physical

•Behavioural or personalitychanges.

Individualresponsesvarygreatly,onlyspecificskillsorabilitieswillbeaffectedandotherintel-lectualabilitiesremainintact.

Implications

•Peoplewhohavehadabraininjurymaydisplaydemanding,intolerant,oraggressivebehaviour

•Thepersonmayrushintothingswithoutclearlythinkingabouttheconsequences

•Sometimestheymayhavedifficultypayingattentionorconcentrating.

•Forsomeindividualsitreducestheirsocialskillsandaffecttheperson’sabilitytofunctioneffectively in a socialsetting

•Theymayexperiencedifficultywithself-motivationorinitiatingactivities.

•Someindividualsmayexperiencephysicaldisabilities,whichoftenincludereducedmusclecontrol andfatigue

PhysicalDisabilityVision Impairment

Communicationstrategies

•WhencommunicatingwithapersonwithanAutismSpectrumDisorderitisimportanttoacknowledgethateachpersonisanindividualandshouldbeapproachedassuch.

•Verbalcommunicationmaybedifficult.PeoplewithanAutismSpectrumDisordermaytakeexpressionsliterally(egrainingcatsanddogs),soavoidambiguousorcolourfullanguage.Theymaynotunderstandbodylanguage.

•Usewordsthatareflexiblesuchas‘wewillusually’or‘wemay’ratherthan ‘wewill’.

•Provideguidelinessuchasonepersontospeakandtheothertolisten.

•Usesimpleandshortsentencestructures, and provideinformationin a logicalorder.

•Introducenewideasgradually.Provideregularbreaksandreducetheamountofinformationtobegiven at onetime.

•Write down the informationthat needstobecommunicated.

•Usediagramsandpictureswhereappropriate

•Breakdowntasksintochecklists.

•Identify sensitivity toparticular colours.

FACT SHEET: Autism andAspergers

DisabilityOverview

AutismSpectrumDisorders(commonlyreferredtoasAutism)describesagroupofdevelopmental disabilities whichincludes:

•Autisticdisorder(sometimescalledinfantileautismorchildhoodautism)

•Asperger’sdisorder

•Atypicalautism

Theword‘spectrum’isusedtodescribethefactthatnotwopeoplewithanAutismSpectrumDisorderbehavethesame.PeoplewithAutismSpectrumDisordersdisplayarangeofpossiblecharacteristicsandbehavioursacrossthreemainareasofsocialinteraction,communicationandbehaviour.

Thecharacteristicsthatcanbeassociatedwithautisticconditionsare:

•engagement in repetitiveactivities

•stereotypedmovements

•resistancetoenvironmentalchangeorchangeindailyroutines.Theymayalsoexperiencesensorysensitivities,i.e.over-orunder-sensitivitytosight,touch,taste,smell,sound,temperature orpain.

AutismSpectrumDisordersarelifelongdisabilitiesthatusuallyappearduringthefirstthreeyearsoflife.ThecausesofAutismSpectrumDisordersarestillunknown,thoughrecentresearchhasindicatedthattheremaybeageneticfactorformanypeople,whileforothersitmaybearesultofdamageorabnormaldevelopmentinthebrainandpartsofthecentralnervoussystembefore,duringorsoonafterbirth.

PeoplewithanAutismSpectrumDisordermayhavedifficultieswithsocialinteractionandcommunication.Forsomeindividualsthisistheresultofnotbeingabletoprocessinformationorunderstandthemeaningofbodylanguageorthespoken/writtenword.

Implications

ApersonwithanAutismSpectrumDisordermay:

•befrustratedwhendealingwitheverydaychallengesandtheunknown

•beconfused,anxiousandvulnerabletodepression

•havelimitedsocialskillsandasaresulthavedifficultymakingfriends

•havedifficultyunderstandingthingswithmultiplenamesorlabels

•havedelayedspeech,repetitiveorincludeabnormalpatterns

•requireassistancewhendealingwithconflict

•havedifficultywithstartingorsustainingconversations

•maydisplayrestrictedandrepetitiveinterestsandbehaviours

•haveexcellentskillsforrotelearningbuthavedifficultyprocessingtheinformation

•havesensitivitiestosound,smell,sight,taste,painandtemperature

•havehighlevelverbalskillsbutbeunabletosigntheirname

•may display self-injuriousbehaviour

ApersonwithanAutismSpectrumDisordermayalsohavelimiteduseandunderstandingofbodylanguageandasaresultmaynotbeableto:

•show their ownexpressions

•maintain eyecontact

•interpretotherpeople’sfeelingsandemotions

PhysicalDisabilityVision Impairment

FACT SHEET: HearingImpairment

Communicationstrategies

•Whencommunicatingwithapersonwithahearingimpairmentitisimportant to acknowledge thateachpersonisanindividualandshouldbeapproachedassuch.

•Togetaperson’sattention,placeyourselfwherethepersoncanseeyouandwaveyourhandortapthemon theshoulder.

•Whentalkingwithapersonwithhearingimpairment,giveinstructionsfacetoface,andtalkslowlyandclearly.Reduce

backgroundnoise,andtrytospeakin quietperiods.

•Don’tstandbehindtheperson,orwithyourbacktostronglightorawindowastheywillnotbeabletosee yourface.

•Ensurethatthepersonisconcentrating on what youaresaying.

•Withaswivelchairthepersoncanturneasilyforlipreading.

•Trytousevisualclues.

•Investigateassistivetechnologiesforuseintheworkplace.Forexample,theuseofvibratingpagingandalertingsystems,orTTY-atelephoneforthedeaf.

•Backupwhatisbeingsaidbyusingwrittencommunication.

DisabilityOverview

Peoplewhoaredeaforhearingimpairedarethosewhocannothearatnormallevelsbecauseofavarietyoffactors.Deafnessandhearingimpairmentcanbehereditaryormaybetheresultofarangeoffactors,includingphysicaldamage,birthabnormalities,disease,prescriptionmedicine,prolongedexposuretoexcessivenoiselevelsoraspartofageing.

PeoplewhoaredeafandidentifywiththeDeafcommunityseethemselvesasalanguageandculturalminoritynotadisabilitygroupandmayuseavisualsignlanguagetocommunicate.

InAustralia,AuslanisthesignlanguageusedamongsigningDeafpeopletocommunicatewitheachother.ForfurtherinformationviewtheAuslanSignLanguageat

Peoplewithahearingimpairmentdonotusuallyuseavisualsignlanguagebutmayuselip readingskillsorassistivetechnologytoassistspeechcomprehensionand,ingeneral,identifylesswithotherdeaforotherhearingimpairedgroupsofpeople.

Implications

•ADeaforhearingimpairedperson’sabilitytoarticulateverballywilldependonthedegreeofhearingloss,whenthatlossoccurred,andassistivetechnologyusedandspeechtraining they havereceived.

•MembersoftheDeafcommunityuseAustralianSignLanguage(Auslan)astheirfirstlanguageandmayexperiencesomedifficultycommunicatinginspokenand/orwrittenEnglish.ToprovideaccurateandcomprehensivecommunicationbetweenahearingpersonandasigningDeafpersonanAuslaninterpreterisused.

•Forpeoplewithahearingimpairment,itisimportanttounderstandthattheuseofahear-ingaidwillamplifysoundsothatbackgroundnoisesliketheairconditionerorwindwill soundlouder,aswellasanyspeech.Itiscrucialtomakesurethatbackgroundnoisesandotherdistractionsarereducedwhencommunicating.

PhysicalDisabilityVision Impairment

Communicationstrategies

•Whencommunicatingwithapersonwithanintellectualdisabilityitisimportant to acknowledge thateachpersonisanindividualandshouldbeapproachedassuch.

•Speak clearly, usingsimplelanguage.

•Checktheirunderstandingbyaskingthemtorepeatintheirownwordswhatyouhavejustsaid.

Bepreparedtorepeatinstructionsseveraltimes.

•Ifthereisasupportpersonaddressthepersonwithadisabilityandnotthe supportperson.

•Breakeachtaskintostepsandillustrateeachstep1,2etc.Don’tassume they will transferknowledgegainedinonetasktoanother.

•Usevisualcues–picturesorgraphics–wherepossible.

•Providelotsofencouragement,andmonitoronaregularbasis.

FACT SHEET: IntellectualDisability

DisabilityOverview

Individualswithanintellectualdisabilityarethosewhohavesubstantiallimitationsinintellectual functionwhencomparedtoindividualsofasimilarage.Theymayalsodemonstratedifficultieswithpersonalskillsneededforeverydayliving.

Intellectualdisabilityisalifelongdisabilitythatcanaffectmanydifferentareasofaperson’slife.Peoplewithanintellectualdisabilitymayhavedifficultieswiththoughtprocesses,learn-ing,communicating,rememberinginformationandusingitappropriately,makingjudgements,problemsolving,andsocialinteractions.

Therangeofintellectualdisabilityvariesgreatlyfrommildintellectualdisabilityrequiringlowsupport,throughtosevereintellectualdisabilityrequiringcomplexsupport.

Therearemanycausesofintellectualdisability,butinthemajorityofcases,thereasonsarestillunknown.Knowncausesinclude:

•Braininjuryorinfectionbefore,duringorafterbirth

•Growth or nutritionproblems

•Abnormalities of chromosomes andgenes

•Babiesbornlongbeforetheexpectedbirthdate

•Drugmisuseduringpregnancy,includingexcessivedrugoralcoholintakeandsmoking.

Implications

Thepersonmayneedassistancewithdailylivingtaskslikehandlingmoney,planningmeals,usingpublictransportorpersonalcare.

Theymayneedassistancewith:

•understanding detailedinformation

•following and understandingdirections

•learning newinformation

•usingandunderstandingspokenandwrittenlanguage

•completingdocuments

PhysicalDisabilityVision Impairment

Communicationstrategies

•When communicating with apersonwithlearningdisabilityitisimportanttoacknowledgethateachperson

isanindividualandshouldbeapproachedassuch.

•Meetinasettingthatiscomfortableanddoesnotcauseanxietyordistraction.Alwaysremember

tokeepyourvoicetonelowandunhurried.

•Usevisualaidslikepictures,drawings andphotographs.

•Askthepersonaboutthemostappropriate way ofcommunicatingwiththem.

•Useshort,cleardirectsentencestobemoreeasilyunderstood.Makeinstructionsclearandbrief.

•Avoidcomplexlanguageorwordsthatmaybetakenliterally.

•Bepatient.

•Rephraseinformationifitisnotunderstood,orpresentinanotherway.

•Askquestionstoensurethepersonunderstands the informationbeingdiscussed.

•Alwaysprovideanopportunitytoansweranyquestionsorprovidefurtherinformation.

FACT SHEET: LearningDifficulties

DisabilityOverview

Alearningdisabilityreferstoavarietyofconditions.Theseconditionscanaffectthewayinwhichapersontakesin,remembers,understandsandexpressesinformation.

Learningdisabilitiesrangeinseverityandinvariablyinterferewiththeacquisitionanduseofoneormoreofthefollowingimportantskills:

•oral language (e.g. listening,speaking)

•reading (e.g.comprehension)

•writing(e.g.spelling,writtenexpression)

•mathematics (e.g. problem solving,concepts)

Peoplewithalearningdisabilityareintelligentandhaveabilitiestolearndespitedifficultiesinprocessing information.

Theexactcauseoflearningdisabilitiesisnotknown,insomecasesitmaybeduetogenetic,othercongenitaland/oracquiredneuro-biologicalfactors.

Learningdisabilitiesmayco-existwithotherconditionsincludingattentional,behaviouralandemotionaldisorders,sensoryimpairmentsorothermedicalconditions.

Implications

•Forsomeindividualsalearningdisabilitycanleadtodifficultieswithorganisationalskills,socialperceptionandsocialinteraction.

•Theymayexperienceproblemswithreadingcomprehension,spokenlanguage,writingandmathematics.

•Alearningdisabilitymaymakeitdifficultforapersontoreceiveinformationfromtheirsenses.

•Peoplewithalearningdisabilitymayfinditdifficulttocommunicatewhattheyknow.

PhysicalDisabilityVision Impairment

Communicationstrategies

•Whencommunicatingwithapersonwithamentalhealthconditionitisimportant to acknowledge thateachpersonisanindividualandshould

FACT SHEET: Mental HealthCondition

DisabilityOverview

MentalillnessorPsychiatricillnessaretermsusedtodescribeawiderangeofdisordersthatareconsideredtoberelatedtothemindorbraininsomeway.Manyconditionsresultingindisordersofthought,emotion,perceptionandjudgementcannowbeidentified,diagnosedandtreatedandmayinclude:

beapproachedassuch.

•Alwaysremembertokeepyourvoicetonelowandunhurried.

•Schizophrenia

•Bi-PolarDisorder

•Depression

•Anxiety

•PersonalityDisorder

•Obsessive CompulsiveDisorder

•PanicAttacks

•Givethepersonanopportunitytotalk.Maketimeforthem.

•Meetinasettingthatiscomfortableanddoesnotcauseanxietyordistraction.

•Forapersonwhomaybecomeanxiousordistracted,providewritteninstructions.

•Useshorter,cleardirectsentencestobemoreeasilyunderstood.

•Usedifferentwordsifthepersonishaving difficulty understandingwhat you aresaying.

•Providepositivefeedbackorcomments,alongwithrecommendations.

•Askquestionstoensurethepersonunderstands the informationbeingdiscussed.

•Alwaysprovideanopportunitytoansweranyquestionsorprovidefurtherinformation.

Mentalillnessesmayfallintotwocategories-Non-PsychoticPsychotic.Thecommon

non-psychoticillnessesincludedepressionandanxietywhichinvolveexaggeratedfeelingsofdepression, sadness, tension or fear. The common psychotic illnesses include SchizophreniaandBi-PolarDisorderwhichareknownorthoughttoaffectthebrainandcausethepersontolosetouch withreality.

Theexactcausesofpsychiatricandpsychologicaldisordersarenotknown.Itappearstobeacombinationofgenetic,biological,psychologicalandenvironmentalfactors.Drugsandstressmayalsocreatecircumstancesthatmakeapersonvulnerable.

Amentalillnessmayhaveanimpactonaperson’sbehaviour,theirthoughtprocesses,theirfeelingsandmoods.Thespecificpersonalexperienceofanillnessmayalsovaryfromindividual toindividual.Recentfiguressuggestthatoneinfiveadultswillexperienceamentalhealthissueatsomestageintheirlife.

Althoughitisconsideredthereisnocureforsomementalillnesses,suchasAlzheimer’sDiseaseandchronicSchizophrenia,theabilitytoaccessmedication,counsellingandsupportscanassisttotreatormanagethesymptoms.

Implications

•Apsychiatricdisorderaffectsthethoughtprocesses,theemotionsandthewayapersonorganisesknowledge(cognitiveability).Forsomeindividualsapsychiatricdisabilitycanhindertheirabilitytofunctionaffectivelyinasocialsetting.

•Somepsychiatricandpsychologicalconditionsarerecurringandappearregularlyintheperson’slifeasepisodes.Theperson,andthosethatsupportthepersonwilllearntorecognisethesignsofanepisodeoccurringandintervenebeforeitescalates.

Supporting a person who is displaying symptoms of a mental illness:

•Remaincalm,donotpanicordramatisethesituation

•Askhowyoucanassisttheperson

•Clearlyexplainyourroleorfunction,usingclearandsimplelanguage

•Donotattempttoreasonortalkthepersonoutoftheirwayofthinking-itisdifficulttoreasonwithapersonthatisunabletothinkclearly

•Talktothepersonandhelptocalmthemdown

•Facethepersonyouaretalkingtoandmaintaingoodeyecontact

•Attempttoavoidpersonaldetailsoraskingirrelevantquestions

•Assistthepersontoaccesssupportsorservicestheyrequire

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DISABILITY FACT SHEETSERIES

AcquiredBrainInjuryAutismandAspergersHearingImpairmentIntellectualDisabilityLearningDifficulties MentalHealthConditionPhysical DisabilityVision Impairment

Communicationstrategies

•Whencommunicatingwithapersonwithaphysicaldisabilityitisimportant to acknowledge thateachpersonisanindividualandshouldbeapproachedassuch.

•Askthepersonaboutthemostappropriate way ofcommunicatingwiththem.

•Donotassumethatpeoplewithaphysicaldisabilitycannotcomprehendbecauseofphysicalappearance.

•Speakdirectlytothepersonandnotwith someone who maybeassistingthem.

•DON’TSHOUT.Speakinatoneappropriatetothesetting.

•Makeeyecontact.Wherepossible,positionyourselfatthesamelevelas theperson.

•Makesurethepersonhasunderstoodyou.Ifnecessarywritethe informationdown.

•Checkwiththepersonaboutuseof adaptive technology to aidwithcommunication

FACT SHEET: PhysicalDisability

DisabilityOverview

Aphysicaldisabilityisonethataffectstheperson’smobilityandordexterity.Physicaldisabilities fall under the followingheadings:

•Limitedcontrolofsomeorallvoluntarymuscles,

•Underdeveloped skeletal structure,and

•Dysfunctionaljoints

Eachpersonwillhavedifferentcauses,symptomsandmanagementstrategiesmakingitdifficulttogeneralisephysicaldisabilities.Aphysicaldisabilitymayhaveexistedsincebirthoritcouldbetheresultofanaccident,illness,infection,disease,degeneration,medicalconditionortheresultofcongenitalfactors.Physicaldisabilitiescanalsoaffectspeech.

Chronichealthconditionsincludearthritis,chronicfatiguesyndrome,asthma,diabetes,epilepsy,hepatitis,cancer,HIV/AIDS,kidneydisorder.Someoftheseconditionsarelife-long,while others vary overtime.

Chronichealthconditionsmaycausefatigue,stressanddifficultywithmemory,handwriting andconcentration.Moodswingsanddepressioncanbeassociated.Medicationmayalsoaffect performance.

Apersonwithaphysicaldisabilitymayrequiresomeassistanceortheuseofsomesortofequipmenttoaidwithmobility.

Implications

•Somedisabilitiesareinvisible,butwillaffecttheperson’sabilitytocompletetasks.

•Peoplewithamobilityimpairmentrelyoneffectivesignagethatisup-to-dateandconsistentinbothstyleandplacement.

•Forpeoplewhouseawheelchairitislikeapartoftheperson’sbody;donotleanorhangon to thechair.

•Offerassistanceifitappearsnecessary,butdonotassumeapersonwithadisabilitywill require or acceptit.

•Makesurethatthereisaclearpathwayforapersoninawheelchairanddonotleavearticlessuchaschairsorboxesinareasthatmayblockaccess.

Physical Disability

VisionImpairment

FACT SHEET: VisionImpairment

Communicationstrategies

•Whencommunicatingwithapersonwithavisionimpairmentitisimportant to acknowledge thateachpersonisanindividualandshouldbeapproachedassuch.

•Beawarethatapersonwhoisblindorvisionimpairedwillbedisadvantaged about knowingwhat

isgoingon.Thereforedescribewhat ishappening.Donotleavepeople

DisabilityOverview

Therearemanycausesofvisionimpairmentandeachindividualisaffecteddifferently.Anindividualisconsideredlegallyblindifthey:

•Cannotseeatsixmetreswhatsomeonewithnormalvisioncanseeat60metres.

•Theirfieldofvisionislessthan20degreesindiameterratherthan180degreesforanormalsightedperson.

Tobeconsideredlegallyblindtheremustbenopossibilityofcorrectingaperson’svisionthroughtreatment.

Theterm‘visionimpaired’simplymeansanindividualhassomedegreeofsightloss.Someformsofvisionimpairmentcanbecorrectedthroughtheuseofglassesorcontactlenses.

Thefourmaineyeconditionsthatleadtovisionimpairmentinclude:

whoareblindorvisionimpaired

withouttellingthemyouaregoing.

•Age-related MacularDegeneration

•Glaucoma

•Cataracts

•DiabeticRetinopathy

•Rememberthepersoncan’tseebut theycanhearperfectlywell,sotrynottospeakloudlyorslowlywhencommunicating.

•Whentalkingtoapersonwithvisionimpairmentdon’tstandwithyourbacktoawindowastheywillnotbeabletoseeyouthroughtheglare.

•Providewrittenmaterialinatleastasixteen point font, particularlysafetyinstructions.Whenchoosingcolours,lookforgoodcontrast,yellowongreenorblackonwhite,avoidinstructionswritteninpalecolours,avoidpastels.

•Whengivingdirectionsuseaccurateandspecificlanguage.Forexample,ensurethatyour‘leftandright’matchtheir‘leftandright’.

Notwopeoplehavethesamevisionloss.Peoplewiththesameeyeconditionmaypossiblyhavedifferentlevelsofvisionimpairment.Withinformation,supportandaidsapersonwhoisblindorvisionimpairedmaycontinuetoleadactiveand independentlivesintheirowncommunity.

Implications

Variousformsofvisionimpairmentmaymeanthatapersonisabletoseewellinoneenvironmentorsituationbuthavedifficultyseeinginanotherenvironmentorsituation.Forexample,apersonwithnightblindnessmaybeabletoseeindaylightbutarealmostblindatnight or in darkenedrooms.

Peoplemayhavedifficultymanagingdailyactivitiesandmovingindependentlyinneworchangedenvironments.Traininginorientationandmobility,orassistanceatworkmayberequired.

Supporting people with VisionImpairment

Alwaysaskfirstifhelpisneeded.Ifthestudentrequiresassistance,touchthebackoftheirhandwithyoursandallowthemtoholdyourarmjustbelowtheelbow.Remembertowalkonthesideoppositetheircaneorguidedog.

Setuptheworkspaceinaquietspotoutsidetrafficflow.Makesurethattherearenoprojectionsatheadheightoreyelevel.

•Askaboutanyspecificlightingneeds.Ingeneral,surfacesshouldbewelllitwithminimalglare.

•Openandclosedoorsfullyratherthanleavingthemajar.

•Adviseifyouhavemovedobjectsorfurniture.

•Givethepersonachoiceinusinglifts,stairs,orescalators.

•Brightyellowlinespaintedalongtheedgeofdarkstepswillassistthesafetyofallworkers.

People who use a guide or mobilitydog

Aguidedogoranyanimaltrainedtoassistapersonwithadisabilitywillbehighlydisciplined.Donotfeed,patortalktoadogthathasit’sharnessonasthiswilldistractthemfromworking.

Iftheanimalisinside,asktheownerofanyspecialrequirementsforthedogi.e.water,exerciseortoileting.

RememberalsothatAnti-discriminationlegislationmakesitunlawfulforguidedogstoberefusedentrytoanybuildingorpublictransport.