Becoming the Instrument of Change: Teaching Communication with Conscious Interacting

Many children and adults with special needs have limited interpersonal communication skills. Many communication programs focus on teaching these individuals to respond. An often missing element is teaching us, the communicative partners, how to initiate in a way that encourages more communication attempts. This workshop teaches participants to be more conscious of their own role in developing communication skills in others. It will focus on useful communication variety, effective non-verbal skills, and interpersonal responsiveness, respectfully recognizing underlying messages, and teaching communication skills that will support people across their lifetimes.

Participants will learn:

a responsive approach as an effective tool to build communication skills in others
the importance of accepting and shaping all non-harmful ways of communicating
why too much focus on speech can actually reduce communication skills development
the communication skills that are most important for a quality life
at least ten valid communication methods to which we can respond in anyone
five important communication skills needed to have true quality of life
the roles of responsive and directive communication styles in building satisfying interpersonal relationships