PIMDA: Profound Intellectual & Multiple Disability Australia

Welcome to PIMDA. PIMDA stands for profound intellectual and multiple disabilities Australia. PIMDA is Sheridan Forster's weblog about issues to do with people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) in Australia. The purpose of PIMDA is to increase awareness of people with PIMD and the issues pertaining to this population. The other purpose of PIMDA is to build a network of interested people who can then work together to improve the lives of people with PIMD.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Interaction shame???

I've been noticing lately how many people seem a little apologetic when they tell me or show me what they do when they are interacting with people with PIMD. I hear things like "we just muck around", "just have cuddles and stuff", "we don't do much", "I probably baby her a bit", "you'll think I'm a bit of a loon". But the person knows that those are the things that work in interactions: playfulness, fun, repetition, quiet being together, tickles. Why is that people are apologetic about doing these things, when they are the things that contribute to a person's quality of life? Why can't people stand up and be proud (in the home, day service, and out and about) and say this is what being with this person in a meaningful way is all about?
So many great quality interactions happen in bathrooms and bedrooms behind closed doors (often people are more vocal, move more, and are most alert) where people won't be embarrassed by their playful interactions - can we get playfulness out of the closet?!?

No comments:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Advocacy articles

Longley, S., & Collins, G. J. (1994). The development of a non-verbal satisfaction measure for use with people who have severe or profound learning disabilities. British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, XL(79), 143-149.
Porter, J., Ouvry, C., Morgan, M., & Downs, C. (2001). Interpreting the communication of people with profound and multiple learning difficulties. British Journal of Learning Disability, 29(1), 12-16.
Ware, J. (2004). Ascertaining the views of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities. British Journal Learning Disability, 32(4), 175-179.

Arts and multi-sensory articles

Ashby, M., Lindsay, W. R., Pitcaithly, D., Broxholme, S., & Geelen, N. (1995). Snoezelen: Its effects on concentration and responsiveness in people with profound multiple handicaps. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 58(7), 303-307.
Brodin, J. (2005). Diversity of aspects on play in children with profound multiple disabilities. Early Child Development and Care, 175, 635-646.
Bunning, K. (1998). To engage or not to engage? Affecting the interactions of learning disabled adults. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 33(Supplement), 386-391.
Cuvo, A. J., May, M. M., & Post, T. M. (2001). Effects of living room, Snoezelen room, and outdoor activities on stereotypic behavior and engagement by adults with profound mental retardation. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 22, 183-204.
Graham, J. (2004). Communicating with the uncommunicative: music therapy with pre-verbal adults. British Journal Learning Disability, 32(1), 24-29.
Hogg, J., Cavet, J., Lambe, L., & Smeddle, M. (2001). The use of 'Snoezelen' as multisensory stimulation with people with intellectual disabilities: a review of the research. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 22, 353-372.
Lindsay, W. R., Pitcaithly, D., Geelen, N., Buntin, L., Broxholme, S., & Ashby, M. (1997). A comparison of the effects of four therapy procedures on concentration and responsiveness in people with profound learning disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 41(3), 201-207.
Logan, K. R., Jacobs, H. A., Gast, D. L., Smith, P. D., Daniel, J., & Rawls, J. (2001). Preferences and reinforcers for students with profound multiple disabilities: can we identify them? Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 13(2), 97-122.
Matson, J. L., Bamburg, J. W., & Smalls, Y. (2004). An analysis of Snoezelen equipment to reinforce persons with severe or profound mental retardation. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25(1), 89-95.
Rainey Perry, M. M. (2003). Relating improvisational music therapy with severely and multiply disabled children to communication development. Journal of Music Therapy, XL(3), 227-246.
Shapiro, M., Parush, S., Green, M., & Roth, D. (1997). The efficacy of the "Snoezelen" in the mangagement of children with mental retardation who exhibit maladaptive behaviours. British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 43(2), 140-155.
Singh, N. N., Lancioni, G. E., Winton, A. S. W., Molina, E. J., Sage, M., Brown, S., et al. (2004). Effects of Snoezelen room, activities of daily living skills training, and vocational skills training on aggression and self-injury by adults with mental retardation and mental illness. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25(3), 285-293.
Vlaskamp, C., & Nakken, H. (1999). Missing in execution therapies and activities for individuals with profound multiple disabilities. British Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 45(2), 99-109.
Vlaskamp, C., de Geeter, K. I., Huijsmans, L. M., & Smit, I. H. (2003). Passive activities: the effectiveness of multisensory environments on the level of activity of individuals with profound multiple disabilities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 16, 135-143.