Thursday, September 22, 2005
"Getting" It Intellectually
I have had staff in the past question whether or not it is worth their time to review curriculum material with “low functioning” consumers – you know, the non-verbal person with a lower IQ who mostly just sits in a chair, not really participating in activities, just kind of watching what is going on.
The question is whether or not they are going to “get” the material intellectually.
And the answer is… I don’t know.
But why not give them the chance to decide that for themselves. Why don’t we assume that they do get it… or that they at least get some of it. The SNAP Curriculum isn’t designed to be used as a lecture series - I’d fall asleep myself if someone just sat and read it to me.
The material can be used as a review in the morning before you go out, while you are sitting waiting for the transit bus to show up, but mostly it is designed to be used casually while out in the community and you come across a “teaching moment.” If a consumer in your group is working on a stealing behavior, then review the Stealing curriculum while you are sitting on a bench before going in a store. Talk to your whole group. Just hold a casual conversation using what you can remember of the written material. Add your own life experience, but always use the base information provided. That way, the consumers are getting a consistent message. Reviewing is good, practice is better.
Never exclude someone from hearing any information just because you think they might not “get it.”
If you are working with a consumer 1:1 and they have a behavior of bolting away from you, then while you are walking, review the Personal Safety curriculum so they hear why it may not be safe to take off running across the street. Do this whether you believe they are “getting” it or not. The program isn’t about you. Always assume that they are hearing some part of what you are saying. And always be consistent with what you are saying to them. The really important part here is to actually practice what you are talking about. No, they are not going to “get” it if you don’t practice the skill in a natural environment.
That’s the nice thing about the SNAP Curriculum. Even if you are on vacation and another staff is working with the consumer, they are still hearing the same consistent base information – and the material can be presented in short pieces while in natural settings.
Is the consumer “getting “ it? I don’t know. Is their behavior changing over time? Yes? Then, maybe so. Let’s use every tool we have to assist them.
The question is whether or not they are going to “get” the material intellectually.
And the answer is… I don’t know.
But why not give them the chance to decide that for themselves. Why don’t we assume that they do get it… or that they at least get some of it. The SNAP Curriculum isn’t designed to be used as a lecture series - I’d fall asleep myself if someone just sat and read it to me.
The material can be used as a review in the morning before you go out, while you are sitting waiting for the transit bus to show up, but mostly it is designed to be used casually while out in the community and you come across a “teaching moment.” If a consumer in your group is working on a stealing behavior, then review the Stealing curriculum while you are sitting on a bench before going in a store. Talk to your whole group. Just hold a casual conversation using what you can remember of the written material. Add your own life experience, but always use the base information provided. That way, the consumers are getting a consistent message. Reviewing is good, practice is better.
Never exclude someone from hearing any information just because you think they might not “get it.”
If you are working with a consumer 1:1 and they have a behavior of bolting away from you, then while you are walking, review the Personal Safety curriculum so they hear why it may not be safe to take off running across the street. Do this whether you believe they are “getting” it or not. The program isn’t about you. Always assume that they are hearing some part of what you are saying. And always be consistent with what you are saying to them. The really important part here is to actually practice what you are talking about. No, they are not going to “get” it if you don’t practice the skill in a natural environment.
That’s the nice thing about the SNAP Curriculum. Even if you are on vacation and another staff is working with the consumer, they are still hearing the same consistent base information – and the material can be presented in short pieces while in natural settings.
Is the consumer “getting “ it? I don’t know. Is their behavior changing over time? Yes? Then, maybe so. Let’s use every tool we have to assist them.
# posted by John @ 1:18 PM 
