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3 Effective Tips When Communicating With Intellectually Diverse Populations

So there you are, standing next to a person with an intellectual disability whether as a mentor, volunteer, or someone you met randomly while out in public, and it dawns on you, “How the heck do I effectively communicate with this person?”

Or, imagine you’re a grocery store checker and it’s time for the customer to pay, but they freeze up from not understanding your non-verbal cues.

Like everything in life, it can be difficult to know how to approach a challenge without a little knowledge first. Let’s start by identifying some types of intellectual disabilities and effective communication tips.

Types of Intellectual Disabilities

So what exactly is an intellectual disability? It is a disability characterized by significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers many everyday social and practical skills.

Sometimes intellectual disability is also referred to as developmental disability which is a broader term that includes ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders), epilepsy, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome,  developmental delay, fetal alcohol syndrome (or FASD) and other disorders that occur during the developmental period (birth to age 18).

3 effective communication tips

1. Communicate directly with the person

Some people with intellectual / developmental disabilities will have a person who supports them in the community. When interacting, it’s important to communicate with the person directly, as opposed to their support person. This shows you are interested and expecting to communicate the person with the disability and sends the message that you believe they are capable individuals. This may not always be an easy task, start with these simple steps:

• Start with a smile - your body language says everything!

• Use short affirming acknowledgements to let the individual know you are hearing them (e.g., 'Eh', ‘Um’, ‘Oh’ and 'I see').

• Think about your body language: Appear interested; adopt a relaxed and yet attentive body posture; observe the tone, volume and stability of your voice; be aware of your responses to some of the information the individual is telling you; and ensure they are appropriate. The individual may miss cues from your facial expression so be aware of your vocal tone.

• Avoid correcting an individual or completing sentences for them. Exercise patience and do not attempt to speak for them.

• Do not pretend to understand. If you don’t understand what a person is communicating, ask him/her to repeat it. If you do not understand an individual the second time, ask the individual if they can tell you in a different way (maybe show you what they are referring to).

If you are really at a loss, and don’t understand the person, you can ask them if it is okay for you to get more information from their support person or others around who might know their method of expression better, but make sure you return your direct attention to them once you have gained more meaning. Let them know they are important to you.

2. WAIT… and be patient

Okay so now you have spoken to them and they aren’t saying anything back. It’s perfectly fine to just wait, wait, wait. Get comfortable with the conversation not flowing as smoothly as you’re used to. A good rule of thumb is count to 8 in your head.  This might be inherently uncomfortable, but just remember their processing time is a lot different than yours.

If the individual does not respond, don’t give up! Point out something you can both see and make a comment. For example, “I sure love sunny days!” or “I really like you shoes!” Try asking the question in a more concrete way that provides a YES or NO option. For example, “Was it busy at Fred Meyer’s today?” or “Have you tried the peaches this season?” or “Which is your favorite, peaches or raspberries?”.

3. Be mindful of your non-verbal communication

Use body language along with your verbal communication.  Some individuals with disabilities rely on environmental cues to understand the world around them. Using simple gestures to act out procedures, point to important things, or highlight your intent may be useful. This might include shaking your hand to stop, or pointing and tapping on an item to support the individual to look at an item or activity. It’s also a good idea to try using a bigger than normal shrug or smile. Your goal is to make non-verbal communication obvious and transparent.

Individuals who experience an intellectual / developmental disability are people who have feelings and passions just like everyone else. It’s important to understand their disability and treat them like any other friend or acquaintance.

In Conclusion

Remember, even though people with intellectual / developmental disabilities may require adjustments to your communication styles, they still deserve patience and respect.

Next time you encounter a person impacted by an I/DD, whether in a classroom, a picnic, or across the checkout stand in a grocery store, use the 3 tips above to communicate more effectively.

Griffin’s Place is on a mission to empower individuals 14 years and older impacted by intellectual / developmental disabilities with the knowledge and opportunities they need to engage in the community.

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