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Tips for working with people
with a learning disability
Here are some pointers that we have learned - mainly the hard way!
In no order of importance:
- At an intellectual level they understand less than I think. However,
at a spiritual level they seem to grasp more than I think!
- Be prepared for answers that make you think you have achieved
nothing over the last few years! Keep going!
- Do not ask rhetorical questions. You will always get answers!
- Use simple English, not childish English.
- Use short sentences. Do not assume that your hearers can carry
over subjects from one sentence to the next. For example: (bad example
but it gives you the idea!)
"Jesus left Jerusalem with his disciples and the servant to
go to Bethany. When he got there..."
Say instead, "Jesus left Jerusalem with his disciples and the
servant. They were going to Bethany. When Jesus, his disciples and
the servant got to Bethany..."
- Do not worry about people wandering around, making noises etc.
Clearly you will need your own thresholds, but try to set them as
low as possible. This will include more people.
- Try to make your services as participative as possible.
- Keep talking to short bursts. Our experience says that unless
you break your talk up into chunks, once you have got to 10-15mins,
its time to stop or have a major change!
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