How to Work With Adults With Developmental Disabilities

The term developmental disability refers to a wide range of disorders that first occur in childhood. These span from mild learning disabilities to mental retardation to severe Autism. Developmental disabilities can affect many areas of functioning including thought, behavior, speech and sensory development. Working with people with developmental disabilities can be particularly challenging. Many developmentally disabled people have difficulty in communicating which leads to frustration and acting out behaviors. There are ways to aid communication and give people with developmental disabilities more self-efficacy and increase emotional well-being.

Instructions

• 1

  Take a person-centered approach. Approach the individual in an open, non-judgmental and emotionally supportive way. You should establish clear boundaries, but offer a safe environment where the individual can learn about emotional and behavioral self-regulation and self-expression.

  A person-centered approach involves offering the individual warm, sincere, positive reinforcement for his successes. This approach can be used with an adult with a developmental disability no matter what her mental age. For instance, if working with an individual for whom patience is difficult and she displays the ability to wait, give her positive verbal feedback or reward her with an activity that she enjoys.

• 2

  Develop skills for dealing with difficult behaviors. Most people with developmental disabilities are not violent, however, inability to communicate frustration can lead to aggressiveness and self-injurious behaviors. When faced with challenging behaviors you should model calmness and help the individual to identify what she is feeling. Express empathy for what she is going through, redirect her to more appropriate activities and behaviors and reward her when she shows appropriate ways of coping.

• 3

  Provide activities that are developmentally age-appropriate. Due to the nature of developmental disabilities, the person with whom you are working will probably have a mental age that is significantly below her chronological age. This can make finding stimulating activities a challenge. You should look at both the types of activities that the individual responds positively to as well as activities that will help her to develop needed life skills.

  If she is lacking social skills, you should try to find activities such as group hobbies or sports that will encourage socializing. Since may adults with developmental disabilities need help learning independent life activities, helping the person to learn to grocery shop, balance a checkbook or cook may help encourage independence and self-efficacy.