Working with family members or disability support workers

Sometimes an accompanying person (eg parent or carer) acts as interpreter for a person with developmental disability. This may be to explain what the person’s signs or gestures mean, help others to understand their speech, or help the person with developmental disability to use a communication aid.

It is critical that the role of the family member or support worker is clear and their influence on the person’s communication is determined and acknowledged. The communications provided by support workers and family members should not be assumed to be the views of the person with communication difficulty.

To ensure inclusive communication when a support worker or family member acts as an interpreter, always:

• include the person with developmental disability in the conversation, and look at them
• ask the person with developmental disability for their permission before speaking about them with their family member or support worker
• remind the person with developmental disability that they can ask to speak privately with you.

Always look for concordance between your assessment and what you are being told the person with disability is communicating. All methods of communication that the person is using can help you to understand what they may be communicating. Watch for cues in facial expression, vocalisations, level of engagement and other nonverbal cues. Be aware of your own interpretation of the person’s meaning and check or confirm your understanding with the person as you go along.