Polyhandicap: preparing access and communication partners
In multiple disabilities, sensory, motor, and communication possibilities vary greatly from one person to another. Preparing an exchange requires considering together the support, setup, response mode, and partners who know it.
Images can be part of the means considered, with the relevant professionals. MY DICTIONARY provides customizable content; its relevance must be distinguished from the question of technical access and message verification.
Start with the modalities already defined with the team
Find out how the person uses their means of communication: what they perceive, the movements they can mobilize, and the known aids. The HAS recommendations emphasize the importance of an appropriate setup and partners trained in the means specific to the person.
Do not modify a specialized setup to make a support more practical from your point of view. Ask for useful adjustments from the professionals who accompany the situation. Access to the message must remain compatible with the comfort and safety of the person.
Distinguish an observed reaction from a confirmed message
A movement, a gaze, or a change in expression can attract attention without indicating a precise choice. The response modalities must be constructed and verified with the person and their competent partners.
Avoid deciding that a blink or a hand squeeze means "yes" based on a single encounter. Observations can be useful for evaluation, but they do not automatically constitute a reliable code for all decisions.
Choose significant communication topics
The project may concern an activity, a person, an object, or a preference. The chosen supports must allow for giving a consequence to the message: information, a possible action, or a conversation. Communication is not limited to successfully designating a symbol.
A situation to prepare together
- The topic that the person wishes to be able to mention.
- The representation considered and its meaning.
- The means of access defined for this situation.
- The way to confirm or correct the message.
- The expected response from partners and the uncertainties to keep visible.
Check what the application can provide
MY DICTIONARY can serve as an image support, but a digital library does not alone resolve a need for motor or sensory access. Any access devices and their compatibility must be evaluated in the context of the person.
Check the access methods supported by your configuration with the relevant professionals. Selection by gaze, scanning, or another specialized device should not be inferred from the mere presence of an image library.
Share precise and revisable observations
Describe the support presented, the assistance provided, and the reactions in their context. Indicate separately the confirmed message and the hypotheses. Relatives can enrich these references, keeping in mind that an observation may be interpreted differently.
The DYNSEO training addresses the specifics of multiple disabilities and the posture of partners. It can support team reflection that remains linked to individualized assessments and the person's communication means.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is one image enough to make communication accessible?
It is also necessary to consider perception, access mode, the meaning of the support, and the partners. An individualized assessment can help choose and try suitable means.
Can blinking be used as a response?
Only in sufficiently defined modalities verified with the person and the team. A movement observed once does not automatically constitute a communication code.
Does MY DICTIONARY include all specialized accesses?
The available access methods and compatibility with the necessary devices should be verified with the publisher, according to the person's needs and their setup.
Prepare your next communication situation
Choose a concrete situation, then the posture references and supports suitable for the person. The training and MY DICTIONARY can assist in this preparation.
For further reading
- HAS — Support for the person with multiple disabilities: reference resource on support or communication.
- Official page MY DICTIONARY: features and presentation of the supports.
- DYNSEO training program: content and modalities of the course.
The situations and examples proposed are preparation avenues to adapt with the person and their communication partners.
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