Communication Barriers PDF

Communication Barriers ====================== **Impact of Ineffective Communication** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Impact | Barriers | +-----------------------------------+---------------------------...

Communication Barriers ====================== **Impact of Ineffective Communication** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Impact | Barriers | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Social Isolation | Life without communication is | | | like being a wall in a room full | | | of people (You are lucky if | | | people talk to you!) | | | | | | Life without communication causes | | | people to feel disconnected from | | | others, and like an inanimate | | | object or a piece of furniture | | | | | |   | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Loss of autonomy | People think that because I can't | | | speak, I can't make my own | | | decisions | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Reduced access to services | I wanted to change my will but I | | | know the lawyer won't understand | | | me and I don't want my family | | | members to come with me to help | | | them understand what I am saying. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Reduced quality of services | I couldn't communicate with the | | | nurses and doctor when I was in | | | hospital.  They took away my | | | communication device and locked | | | it up for safe keeping. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Increased risk for abuse, crimes | I tried to tell the police about | | and violation of human rights | how I was abused. They told me I | | | would not be a credible witness | | | because I could not speak. | | | | | |   | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Lack of control and consent in | I had a medical procedure that I | | major life decisions | didn't consent to.  They didn't | | | give me a chance to use my letter | | | board to get the information I | | | needed. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Discrimination | I was contacted by phone to set | | | up a job interview.  As soon as | | | they realized I used a | | | communication device, they told | | | me they would get back to me and | | | I never heard from them again. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Unemployment | I am struggling to get by on | | | social assistance, not because I | | | lack education, skills, talents, | | | motivation, or technology to | | | accommodate my disability. I am | | | struggling on social assistance, | | | because I could not find an | | | employer, who saw beyond the | | | assumptions, and misperceptions, | | | of my disability. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Compromised safety | The emergency people just ignored | | | me and asked a stranger who was | | | standing beside me to consent to | | | my treatment. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Loss of dignity | Everyday I leave the safety of my | | | home and suffer pity and disgust | | | from people. I overheard a woman | | | in a mall talking about me.  She | | | said "He shouldn't be let out on | | | his own" -- like I was an animal | | | in a zoo | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Loss of Independent Living | I know people who have to live in | | | long term care facilities simply | | | because they don't have an | | | adapted telephone to call for | | | help if they need it. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Mental health issues | When a child can't communicate | | | and is on waiting lists for | | | services, frustration develops | | | and the child's actions are seen | | | as "behavior" when, really they | | | may be the only child's way of | | | communicating. | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Lack of Clinical Services and Device Funding** ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Impact of lack of services and device funding People who have communication disabilities report Communication is not seen as a priority I think people with communication disabilities feel less human and less important than people with other types of disabilities where there are more services and funding for assistive devices Lack of Speech-Language Pathology services Right now, seniors in long term care have almost no communication services and the people staffing these facilities have no skills in communication Lack of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Services (AAC) Long waiting lists for AAC services; lack of AAC services and of access to appropriate communication devices and lack of appropriate accommodation for AAC interfere with the early development of communication which impedes education, inclusion, relationships, participation and self esteem. Isolation, withdrawal and depression are common. Lack of funding for communication devices Our daughter has Rhett syndrome. She has lost her ability to speak and control her body. She is trapped in her own body, and needs  a communication device to communicate with us. We had to travel out of province to get services and we had to buy her a device she could operate with her eyes. ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Disrespectful Attitudes** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Barrier Examples | Description | People who have | | | | communication | | | | disabilities report | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Assumption of | Ignoring the person | My husband has | | incompetence | with a communication | aphasia because of | | | disability, deferring | his stroke. | | | questions to an | Unfortunately, his | | | accompanying person, | difficulty in | | | speaking in way that | communicating is | | | implies person is | perceived as an | | | incapable, has | intellectual issue. | | | reduced cognitive | | | | abilities and is |   | | | unable to make their | | | | own decisions. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Generalization of | Speaking loudly, | I find people are | | disabilities | slowly and a childish | usually very | | | manner to a person | respectful -- | | | with a communication | however, because our | | | disability. | son is non -- verbal | | | | they assume he is | | |   | deaf. We always | | | | explain our son can | | | | hear you however, he | | | | uses a computer/phone | | | | to speak. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Unfamiliarity | Avoiding interactions | The biggest barrier | | | with the person for | is ignorance. Many | | | fear they may not | assumptions made | | | understand their | about people with | | | message. | communication | | | | disabilities stem | | |   | from a lack of | | | | education and | | |   | exposure to the | | | | realities. Often when | | | | people think they are | | | | being helpful (e.g., | | | | speaking louder; | | | | filling in the | | | | person's word; | | | | speaking in short, | | | | simple sentences to | | | | an adult, etc.) they | | | | are well-intentioned, | | | | but their ignorance | | | | presents itself as | | | | patronizing, | | | | belittling | | | | condescension. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Ignorance | Not knowing the | People often talk | | | nature of | about people in front | | | communication | of them as if they | | | disabilities and how | cannot understand. | | | it impacts people in | | | | different ways |   | | | including one or more | | | | aspects of speech, | My husband has | | | understanding, | recently been | | | reading and writing. | diagnosed with ALS-- | | | | his speech has been | | |   | severely compromised | | | | and continues to | | | | decline. He has been | | | | accused of drinking. | | | | People get frustrated | | | | with him, and rolling | | | | of eyes, etc. It is | | | | horrible to see him | | | | struggle. | | | | | | | |   | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ **Lack of Information on how to communicate** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Lack of communication | People need | If service providers | | skill | information on how to | do not follow a | | | communicate with | person's | | | people who have | communication | | | different | instructions, then | | | communication | the interaction will | | | profiles and how to | not be successful. | | | negotiate | Communication will | | | accessibility | not have taken place. | | | requirements for | Communication only | | | people with | occurs when a message | | | communication | has been transmitted | | | disabilities. | by one party and | | | | received by the | | |   | other. If the service | | | | provider does not | | |   | follow the | | | | communication | | |   | directions, then only | | | | one party is | | |   | participating in the | | | | communication | | | Tendency for service | process. The transfer | | | providers to | of the message will | | | "pretend" they | be incomplete. | | | understand a person's | | | | message, to ignore | People who pretend to | | | what the person is | understand are | | | communicating or to | disrespectful. They | | | change the topic. | should ask | | | | clarification, | | |   | repetition or try to | | | | improve listening | | |   | conditions to | | | | understand the | | | | message projected. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Insufficient time to | It takes longer to | Using augmentative | | communicate | communicate when a | and alternative | | | person has processing | communication (AAC) | | | difficulties or when | is typically a much | | | they use an AAC | slower process than | | | method of | oral communication. | | | communication, | Time is needed for | | | therefore they | the person to express | | | require extra time | himself. | | | for communicating | | | | with service |   | | | providers. | | | | | We need a way to | | |   | ensure that service | | | | providers can provide | | | | extra time as an | | | | accessibility | | | | requirement for | | | | people with | | | | communication | | | | disabilities. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ **Telephone Services** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Barrier | Description | Example | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Inability to connect | Some websites do not | I can't get an answer | | to telephone services | provide a telephone | when I call some | | | number or email | agencies.  I wish I | | | address to connect. | could email them. | | | There can be long | | | | waiting times for an | I have to get someone | | | answer. People with | to make the call for | | | communication | me because I can't | | | disabilities may rely | push all the numbers | | | on paid attendants to | to get through to the | | | assist them to make | right person. | | | these calls and there | | | | may be no answer | | | | within a work shift. | | | | This makes it | | | | impossible to | | | | connect. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Agents lack | People with | People who stutter | | information and | communication | often have the phone | | skills to communicate | disabilities report | hung up on them | | with people who have | that agents often | because they have | | communication | hang up on them | trouble starting | | disabilities over the | because they think | their message. People | | telephone | they are drunk or | who have motor speech | | | because they think | disorders may not be | | | there is no one on | taken seriously | | | the phone when a | because, in some | | | person is typing or | cases, they sound | | | can't get their words | drunk. Those who use | | | out due to | an AAC device may not | | | stuttering. Agents do | be taken seriously | | | not have training in | because the voice | | | how to communicate | output sounds | | | with person who has a | computerized. | | | communication | | | | disability over the |   | | | phone; what to do if | | | | they use an AAC | | | | device or if they | | | | don't understand | | | | their speech. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Lack of protocols and | People with | I needed to make a | | procedures for use of | communication | phone call to Revenue | | communication | disabilities report | Canada.  Because I | | assistance over the | they are often not | spell out what I want | | telephone. | permitted to use a | to say on an alphabet | | | person that they have | board, I wanted | | | authorized to assist | someone to read out | | | an agent in | my message over the | | | understanding what | telephone.  They | | | they are | would not let me use | | | communicating over | a communication | | | the telephone. | assistant or explore | | | | ways to ensure that I | | | | had authorized this | | | | person to be my | | | | voice. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Lack of alternate | Many people with | I can communicate | | communication options | communication | independently through | | to the phone. | disabilities  want to | email, yet many | | | use alternate ways to | service providers | | | telephone | including my own | | | communication such as | doctor's office | | | email or skype or in | refuse to use email | | | person meetings | and force me to have | | | | someone call for me. | | | | They claim it is for | | | | privacy reasons yet | | | | email is much more | | | | private for me than | | | | having someone call | | | | on my behalf and | | | | learn about my health | | | | information. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ **Public Consultations, meetings and committees** ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barrier Description Example No communication accommodations at events Unlike people who are deaf who can request sign language interpreters, and people who are deafblind who can request intervenors, people with communication disabilities are not offered trained communication assistants to support them to communicate in these situations. I can't just show up at a meeting and expect that people will let me communicate using my letter board because there is nobody there who can assist me. There are no trained communication assistants at these events to help us communicate. Lack of alternate options to contribute People with communication disabilities require a range of accessible ways to contribute and participate at public consultations and events, such as online, print, graphic, symbol enhanced information and questionnaires. A written survey is often a much easier way for me to give my input because I can discuss it at my pace and get support from people to complete it. Moderators at meetings People with communication disabilities may need to program their device or write what they want to communicate ahead of a meeting or event. They may need the moderator or chair of the meeting to instruct the participants about how to facilitate their involvement. Event moderators think I can't contribute.  They don't know how to give me a chance to communicate because they are worried that everyone else will get bored waiting for my message. Communication supports (graphics and symbols) People with communication disabilities may need  vocabulary in pictures or symbols to communicate about issues relating to topics being addressed. People with aphasia needed the pictures to help them understand this survey. ----------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- **Information and Communications** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Barrier | Description | Example | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Reading and | People with | There are huge | | understanding written | communication | barriers in obtaining | | materials | disabilities, who | information from | | | have reduced or | government service | | | impaired language and | providers. Health | | | / or literacy skills, | information, | | | may require | government | | | accommodations to | information, banking | | | read and understand | information etc. is | | | written information | not presented in a | | | that is in print, on | communication | | | a website, or in | friendly manner. | | | e-communications. | | | | | I think all | | |   | communication needs | | | | to be in plain | | | In addition, many | language, universal | | | family members report | design for learning | | | difficulty when | principles where | | | getting information | people access the | | | from services on | same information in | | | behalf of a loved one | an easily accessible | | | because they cannot | way. | | | access these services | | | | or get information in | Some of us need | | | ways they understand. | pictures or symbols | | | | to enhance our | | | | ability to read a | | | | document. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Navigate websites and | People with | Because I use a | | handle paper | communication | switch to access web | | | disabilities, who | pages, I want pages | | | also have physical | that are easy to | | | disabilities, may | navigate and do not | | | require | involve a lot of | | | accommodations to | scrolling.  When it's | | | access printed | a paper copy I need | | | brochures and | someone to help turn | | | navigate websites and | the pages. | | | e-communications. | | | | | | | |   | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Alternate formats | People with | It's easier for me to | | | communication | get document in | | | disabilities may want | electronic format so | | | print material in | I can use my screen | | | large font or sent to | reader and also look | | | them electronically | up words I may not | | | so that they can read | understand. | | | them using a screen | | | | reader on their | | | | computer. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Alternate signatures | People with | Any alternate | | | communication | signature should be | | | disabilities, who | the one that is used | | | also have motor | regularly by that | | | disabilities, may | particular | | | have difficulty | individual. It may be | | | physically signing | necessary that | | | documents and require | signatures are | | | alternate signatures. | witnessed if it is | | | Many People with | something easily | | | communication | copied such as an X. | | | disabilities | | | | experience challenges | | | | signing documents | | | | because service | | | | providers question | | | | their cognitive | | | | capacity to make | | | | decisions. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Note taking | People with | In some situations, | | | communication | like a classroom or | | | disabilities, who | lecture I want | | | also have motor | someone to take notes | | | disabilities that | for me or I want to | | | affect their ability | record the session so | | | to write or type, may | I can listen to it | | | require | again. | | | accommodations  to | | | | take notes at a | | | | committee meeting or | | | | public event. | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | Forms | People with | I want forms in | | | communication | electronic format | | | disabilities, who | that I can use with | | | also have motor | my typing program | | | disabilities that | which gives me word | | | affect their ability | prediction and spell | | | to write or type, may | checking.  I also | | | require forms that | need to be able to | | | they can complete | save forms and come | | | using their | back to them because | | | communication device | I get tired when | | | or computer. These | typing. | | | forms should allow | | | | them to take frequent | | | | breaks | | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+