Communication Aids: Evidence, Practice and Application

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Course Content: 

The course will cover:

1. Examples of aids that are created prior to assistance and ‘in-the-moment’ depending on the current needs of a vulnerable person at an interview, hearing, conference and trial.
2. Practical recommendations derived from the research literature and provision of a summary of common critiques of the communication aids research literature.
3. Nuanced considerations relevant to the implementation of communication aids:

• the importance of non-verbal communication and gesture when introducing and managing aids;
• developmental differences affecting the usefulness and reliability of aids;
• the timing of introduction of communication aids;
• considerations regarding who should introduce the aid; and

the types of questioning that should accompany the use of aids.

Course Aims/Objectives:

1. To provide attendees with an understanding of different types of communication aids and their intended purposes such as:

1. To establish common ground and assist receptive communication;
2. To repair communication breakdowns and facilitate expressive communication
3. To facilitate recall and memory retrieval.

2. To understand best practice in using aids in a non-leading manner.

To understand the relevant research and how we can use this to support intermediary practice.

Course Method:

The workshop is run in the form of a small group training. The presenters will present information and will invite high levels of participation and sharing of knowledge and ideas. Prepared slides/handouts guide the process rather than impart information.

The following materials are provided:

• Powerpoint presentations
• Guidance for further reading-Bibliography