Comments on: Relationships with Non-verbal Clients http://notjustwork.info/archives/relationships-with-non-verbal-clients Exploring relationships between people with disabilities and attendant carers Wed, 26 May 2010 05:18:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Catherine Fraser http://notjustwork.info/archives/relationships-with-non-verbal-clients/comment-page-1#comment-3989 Catherine Fraser Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:26:06 +0000 http://lpp.notdoneliving.net/?p=34#comment-3989 Reading these comments it is so clear to me that there is so much more than a 'commercial' (or 'charitable'!?)transaction of tasks going on here...as one of the other posts says, 'the human factor element'. These posts are an enormously important contribution to understanding what this job is and what people (both parties) get out of it. Thank you for your narratives from first hand experience - so powerful. Cheers. Reading these comments it is so clear to me that there is so much more than a ‘commercial’ (or ‘charitable’!?)transaction of tasks going on here…as one of the other posts says, ‘the human factor element’. These posts are an enormously important contribution to understanding what this job is and what people (both parties) get out of it. Thank you for your narratives from first hand experience – so powerful. Cheers.

]]> By: paul maas http://notjustwork.info/archives/relationships-with-non-verbal-clients/comment-page-1#comment-1811 paul maas Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:42:44 +0000 http://lpp.notdoneliving.net/?p=34#comment-1811 I have been working in the disability field for 12 years+, and at times I have been told that I should give it up.(by outsiders who have never worked in the field) Yes it has its challenges, yes it can be at times a danger to yourself, but once in a blue moon someone who you look after gives you a hug, smiles and saya thank you. If they have difficulty in communication it may come in the form of their body language where you get a feeling of appreciation and you know you have made a difference. Communication is not always what is said but how it is said. The difference of a client showing behaviours of concern to some and not others can come down to how you communicate with them. This means observing your clients and allowing them to observe you.The process will not happen overnight but it will happen, and the end result will be a better understanding of each other. However it may turn out that it wasnt meant to be ,however when you go home is it any different? I have been working in the disability field for 12 years+, and at times I have been told that I should give it up.(by outsiders who have never worked in the field)
Yes it has its challenges, yes it can be at times a danger to yourself, but once in a blue moon someone who you look after gives you a hug, smiles and saya thank you. If they have difficulty in communication it may come in the form of their body language where you get a feeling of appreciation and you know you have made a difference.
Communication is not always what is said but how it is said.
The difference of a client showing behaviours of concern to some and not others can come down to how you communicate with them.
This means observing your clients and allowing them to observe you.The process will not happen overnight but it will happen, and the end result will be a better understanding of each other.
However it may turn out that it wasnt meant to be ,however when you go home is it any different?

]]> By: Sheridan Forster http://notjustwork.info/archives/relationships-with-non-verbal-clients/comment-page-1#comment-43 Sheridan Forster Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:23:45 +0000 http://lpp.notdoneliving.net/?p=34#comment-43 Thanks for sharing your story of your relationship. I really enjoyed reading it. You are not alone, as what you described is felt by many support workers and others. I have done some some research in this area and the support workers I interviewed also talked about the pleasure they get in being with the person they worked with, the importance of the person putting their foot down, and the importance of a hug. Good on you! Sheri (ps I have a similar story on my blog about my friendship with Christopher) Thanks for sharing your story of your relationship. I really enjoyed reading it. You are not alone, as what you described is felt by many support workers and others.
I have done some some research in this area and the support workers I interviewed also talked about the pleasure they get in being with the person they worked with, the importance of the person putting their foot down, and the importance of a hug.
Good on you!
Sheri (ps I have a similar story on my blog about my friendship with Christopher)

]]> By: Rosemary Crossley http://notjustwork.info/archives/relationships-with-non-verbal-clients/comment-page-1#comment-22 Rosemary Crossley Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:52:47 +0000 http://lpp.notdoneliving.net/?p=34#comment-22 Great article. Just a thought - has Miss X ever tried an eye-pointing system - doesn't require anything worn on the head and can be as simple as YES and NO held wide apart, or can be sophisticated enough to write a book. If interested please email me on dealcc@vicnet.net.au Rosemary Great article.

Just a thought – has Miss X ever tried an eye-pointing system – doesn’t require anything worn on the head and can be as simple as YES and NO held wide apart, or can be sophisticated enough to write a book.

If interested please email me on dealcc@vicnet.net.au

Rosemary

]]> By: Hank http://notjustwork.info/archives/relationships-with-non-verbal-clients/comment-page-1#comment-10 Hank Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:26:23 +0000 http://lpp.notdoneliving.net/?p=34#comment-10 What a great story, but there are many ways to communicate OTHER than verbally. Communication Boards (or COMpics, Symbols, etc) are but one way. Normally Boardmaker (TM) is used but Office programs like Word or Publisher can make Communication Boards. I am of the strong opinion that ANYONE can communicate as there are so many options, like eyegaze, compics, etc. It is said that up to 90% of Communication is non verbal so it's a matter for Carers to 'learn' the signs. Hank. What a great story, but there are many ways to communicate OTHER than verbally. Communication Boards (or COMpics, Symbols, etc) are but one way. Normally Boardmaker (TM) is used but Office programs like Word or Publisher can make Communication Boards. I am of the strong opinion that ANYONE can communicate as there are so many options, like eyegaze, compics, etc. It is said that up to 90% of Communication is non verbal so it’s a matter for Carers to ‘learn’ the signs.
Hank.

]]> By: Franky http://notjustwork.info/archives/relationships-with-non-verbal-clients/comment-page-1#comment-5 Franky Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:10:20 +0000 http://lpp.notdoneliving.net/?p=34#comment-5 Hi, I am taking a couple of minutes from caring for my son to say how much I love your story. So many people misunderstand my son (with CP) and he is verbal! Great to read stories liek yours coming from helpers! Merry Xmas. Franky Hi, I am taking a couple of minutes from caring for my son to say how much I love your story. So many people misunderstand my son (with CP) and he is verbal! Great to read stories liek yours coming from helpers! Merry Xmas. Franky

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