7 EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES IN DISABILITY CARE IN SYDNEY
When it comes to offering disability support services in Sydney, communication plays a vital and important role. During any type of disability care, communication with the person with disability acts way more than a tool. It creates the very foundation of building trust, understanding and a cordial relationship between caregivers and participants & their families. Moreover, an effective communication is likely to create all the difference between feeling supported and feeling isolated for the people with disability.
But the vital question is, what does an effective communication during disability support service looks like? Also, how can caregivers and NDIS service providers in Sydney improve their communication strategy and make sure that individuals receiving the support gets the best possible support?
In this blog we will be discussing about seven key strategies which can improve communication level with a person with disability and at the same time keeping the level of care intact.
- Active Listening: More Than Just Hearing Out
It is without doubt that active listening can be rightfully considered as one of the prime foundation stone of effective communication with an individual with disability. It is not just about hearing out the ‘voices’ of the person, but truly understanding the meaning behind every word uttered. Obviously not all persons are same, and so are their mode of expression and behaviour. That’s why caregivers must need to be extra attentive and empathetic towards the person he/she is taking care of.
For example, while offering care, the caregiver can use more than just mere words to communicate – like monitoring the body language of the participant, facial expression, and even catching subtle changes in their tone of voice. Quite often, a person with disability may not be able to communicate or express themselves properly through clear speech. In such cases, understanding their posture or eye contact can be useful to understand their expression.
This mode of communication is particularly useful with the people who have limited speech ability. That’s why finding small cues like slight nod, an eye movement or change in breathing can tell a lot of them.
- Be Clear & Simple: Avoid Overcomplication
If you are taking care of someone with disability, it is fairly important to keep the mode of communication simple and the language used should be as colloquial as possible. This is especially useful with the persons with intellectual disability to whom usage of complicated sentences or abstract ideas can be utterly confusing. However, it doesn’t mean to neglect a conversation, but cut down the sentences or information into multiple yet simple fragments so that it becomes easier for the person to understand.
As a NDIS service provider in Sydney, when you are working with a person with disability, it is absolutely necessary to be clear and actionable about the instructions. For example, if you are introducing a new piece of assistive technology to the person you are taking care of, you might start by saying, – ‘’First, turn on the button to start the device. Then, press the green button start using”. At the same time giving the person ample time to understand and execute the instructions are equally important.
- Patience Is the Key: Give Ample Time To Respond
Patience is virtue, and it is absolutely true in the field of disability support services in Sydney or anywhere else. In some form of disability (intellectual or cognitive), individual may take longer time process the information given, and subsequently takes longer time to respond too. Yes, at times, this can be frustrating to person offering care, but making them rush to respond can disorient them from the conversation and likely to discourage them to continue further. That’s why in disability care; your patience holds the key. Just allow the person plenty of time to express themselves. If they are non-verbal, give them time to use any communication aids which they may have been using, such as a communication board or device.
In this regard, always keep in mind that communication isn’t just about pace and speed; it’s about understanding and feeling the connection. Show your patience by waiting and giving the person with disability the space to respond at their own pace.
- Use Visual Aids and Technology
In the contemporary world, thanks to the augment of science and technology, we have an abundance of tools which can make communication with the persons with disability much accessible and easier.
For example, a NDIS service provider in Sydney can use various devices such as a sign language modulator, speech generating devices, picture boards or mere tablet and smartphone to convey his/her message. This is very useful particularly those persons who have difficulty with verbal articulation or having cognitive challenges. All these techs can make a fair bit of differences when you are trying to engage someone who find it difficult to perform traditional form of communication.
- Encourage Two-Way Communication
Effective communication is never about having a mere ‘talk’ with the person with disability, but it is about building an environment where the communication can take place in ‘two-way’ mode. For this, a NDIS service provider in Sydney should encourage the person he/she is taking care of to share their own thoughts and feeing without the fear of being judged by others. This will not only help in establishing a ‘two-way’ communication, but also will help the caregiver to understand the person with disability more and give an opportunity to prepare a more personalised care option for him/her.
- Focus On Empathy: Understand Their World
To have an effective communication with a person with disability, you must have abilities to understand their perspective of viewing things. Yes, being empathetic is key point here. The more you can understand their experiences, needs, and feelings, the better you can communicate with them.
During the disability support services in Sydney, one better way to enhance empathy for a caregiver is to learn more about the specific disability or the condition of the person he/she is taking care of. For example, someone with autism might have different sensory needs and his/her caregiver can adjust they style of communication by being empathetic to his/her needs – such as minimising loud noises outside or articulating in a low and slow pitch.
Concluding Thoughts
Whether you are working with an NDIS service provider in Sydney or supporting individuals through disability support services in Sydney, getting familiar with these strategies will surely enrich both the quality of care and the experience for everyone involved.
It’s not just about the words you say, but about the care, patience, and understanding you convey to them in every interaction. And remember, great communication doesn’t just happen; it’s something that evolves with time, practice, and dedication.