Using contact work in interactions with adults with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders

Abstract

Accessible summary• Some people with learning disabilities find it hard to interact with other people.• This project looks at one way of making interaction easier.• We tried a way of measuring whether this worked or not.• The project was useful, but there is more work to be carried out on how to measure this. SummaryThis article describes a project about using contact work with people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. People with learning disabilities and additional autistic spectrum disorder are at risk of becoming socially isolated because of their difficulties in interacting with others. Contact work is a form of PreTherapy, which is based on Carl Rogers' person-centred approach. It focuses on psychological contact, which is the first of the 'necessary and sufficient' conditions for therapeutic relationships. The approach was developed by Gary Prouty and has been used with people who find it difficult to establish psychological contact because of their emotional, mental health or cognitive problems. The approach was used with two clients with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. The sessions were evaluated using a tool created for the project that was designed to measure different contact behaviours. The impact of the project on both clients and therapists is discussed. In addition, the measurement tool is examined, and areas for further study are identified. The project was felt to be useful on a subjective level. The measurement tool was useful in collecting quantitative data but requires more work to capture more qualitative aspects of the work.

Protecting the rights of pupils with autism when meeting the challenge of behaviour

“…In the context of schools therefore, it is more useful to reframe the principles of pre‐therapy as ‘contact work’. Brooks & Paterson () define contact work as activity ‘where the aim may be to increase a person's interaction, communication and quality of life’ (p.162). Contact work is advocated here as a useful structure for enabling the development of understandings between people who have significantly different experiences of being.…”

“…In the context of schools therefore, it is more useful to reframe the principles of pre-therapy as 'contact work'. Brooks & Paterson (2010) people who have significantly different experiences of being. The problem of behaviour is sited here not within the disabled pupil but within the relationship between pupil, teacher and the learning environment.…”

Psychosocial interventions for older people with intellectual disabilities and the role of support staff: A systematic review

“…Seven studies focused primarily on improving social and communication skills or increasing social inclusion in order to prevent social isolation and expand social networks and societal participation. One study outlined an intervention in which the contact behaviour of people (including one older person) with intellectual disabilities and autism was explored and supported individually (Brooks & Paterson, 2010 ). A second study examined the learning and use of a picture exchange communication system by people (including one older person) with intellectual disabilities and severe communication deficits, as described by Conklin and Mayer (2010).…”

“…The third category of interventions included nine studies in which the role of support staff remained undefined (Bidwell & Rehfeldt, 2004 ; Brooks & Paterson, 2010 ; Conklin & Mayer, 2011 ; Cuvo et al, 2001 ; Dollar et al, 2012 ; Golisz et al, 2018 ; Harper et al, 2013 ; Raftery et al, 2017 ; Randle‐Philips et al, 2016 ). The interventions addressed in these studies focused largely on teaching new, adaptive skills to individuals with intellectual disabilities or improving their behaviour (e.g., social avoidance).…”