Adapting Presentation and Delivery for Cognitive Disabilities
Just as we adapt how we present to guests in all lessons we adapt likewise for people with cognitive disabilities to achieve the best outcome for our guest. Hopefully the four areas you cover in a cognitive assessment will give you a good understanding to go from.
Here are some tips for some of the common cognitive disabilities…
Slow down your presentation and be calm, build self esteem, allow your student to move (within safe boundaries), give your student responsibility, create and reference a long term structure for the lesson.
Know and use any specific interest they might have, learn about any environmental or social triggers and try and mitigate these, know that language is interpreted literally and tend towards visual presentation, follow their routines and any you create, and if they need to change give and repeat advance notice.
Use simple single step instructions, break down tasks into smaller steps and celebrate successes, follow a routine.