S1.01 - Communication Skills Instruction
Communication is a process of sharing information, sending or receiving information (Bolding & Wehmeyer, 1999). It can be verbal or non-verbal. What is said, what is not said, and how something is said, all effect the information received. Forms of communication vary extensively and include symbols, songs, lighting, sign-language, pictures, eye contact or lack of eye contact, body posture or movements, facial expressions, and gestures. Further, the situation in which we receive information may also influence what is communicated. Something communicated in a dimly lit room may have a different meaning than if communicated in a different setting.
Effective communication skills provide a method of expressing needs, wants and desires (Anderson, Seaton, & Dinas, 1995) and are important skills for self-advocacy (Wehmeyer, Agran, Hughes, 1999). Being able to advocate for a specific job or specific job features (e.g., benefits, setting, responsibilities) could mean the difference between a good job and an unacceptable job. Self-advocacy in the work place can help provide a consumer with some of the skill necessary to identify job and career goals.
The following materials will provide a brief overview of three types of communication skills: conversation skills, body language, and listening skills. This is not intended to be an exhaustive review but just a beginning. For additional suggestions on communication skills, the reader is encouraged to look at some of the web links or references at the end of the document. A facilitator might assist the consumer in examining communications skills and how they might be made more effective.
Step 1: Conversation skills
Effective communication skills can be important components of effective self-advocacy efforts (Wehmeyer, Agran, & Hughes, 1999). Communication skills include:
- Knowing when to respond to a statement or question with a relevant statement or answer,
- Knowing when to initiate a conversation,
- Understanding how to take turns in a conversation,
- Showing interest in others conversations with appropriate body language (e.g., eye-contact, head nods) and interspersing brief support statements (e.g., yes, right, okay), and
- Using appropriate paralinguistic characteristics (e.g., volume of speech intonation, inflection, and voice firmness).
Helping a consumer improve their conversation skills should include a review of potential problems in conversations. Ineffective or problem conversation skills include:
- Failing to respond to a question or statement from a conversation partner,
- Responding to questions or statements with short or abrupt responses,
- Interrupting another speaker frequently,
- Responding to a question with a change in topic,
- Responding in a manner that makes fun of or belittles a conversation partner, and
- Mumbling or unintelligible responses.
Conversational skills can be learned using social skills training and role-play exercises (Wehmeyer, Agran, & Hughes, 1999).
Page updated 10/30/06
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