Working together to support people with disability

A document with a support icon on it. There is a light bulb icon next to it.

In this bulletin, we look at another idea from the research about positive behaviour support.

A person helping someone else read a document.

This idea is about working together to support people with disability.

2 people giving a thumbs up.

When everyone works together, people with disability:

  • are understood better
  • have the support they need.

Everyone working together means they:

A person listening to someone else that is talking.

  • listen to everybody

A person smiling and giving a thumbs up.

  • focus on the things people are good at

A group of 3 people talking, above them is a speech bubble with three points.

  • don’t expect one person to have all of the answers.

This works well when everybody:

A group of people smiling and talking, above them is a lightbulb.

  • is open to new ideas

A group of people talking, above them is a question mark.

  • wants to know what other people think and feel.

A group of 4 people flipping through a document together at a table. They are smiling.

When everyone works together, they are more likely to make a plan that everybody:

  • understands
  • wants to use.

Questions to think about

A thought bubble with a question mark in it.

When everyone works together, it is important to think about the following questions.

A person next to a question mark.

Who does the person with disability want to include?

A person supporting someone else and a question mark.

Who are the main support people?

A parent with their child. Next to the parent is a thought bubble with a thumbs up in it.

Who knows the person with disability the best?

A location icon and a calendar.

What is the best way to meet these people?

Think about:

  • where to meet them
  • when to meet them.

A person smiling and raising their hand. Next to them is a safety icon.

How can you help people feel safe to share what they think?

A person pointing at themselves with their hand raised. Next to them is a speech bubble with an importance icon in it.

What is important to the main support people when you meet them?

What do they care about?

A large group of people pointing at themselves with their hand raised. Above them is a question mark.

Would it be helpful to get people together to hear what everybody thinks?