Disability support workers generally play a vital role in facilitating their client’s personal and social growth. Whether this be helping them become more independent at home or more involved in the community, helping facilitate their daily engagement is a crucial part of the role.
The most reputable disability centre Melbourne has available will work towards helping in their social engagement, and here are five ways in which they may do so:
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1. Try social skill building games
One of the ultimate ways to develop your client’s social skills is to practise interpersonal games that focus on emotions, body language and replies. Games include emotion charades, where players have to choose an emotion and either draw it or act it out for the other player to guess. These games are perfect for people who wish to work on their social skills.
Creative games like topic games where players run through the alphabet choosing answers belonging to a topic of your choosing are a great way to develop confidence in one’s ability to speak about a range of topics in a public space.
2. Go with them to social occasions
The best disability centre Melbourne has available has support workers that will often accompany their clients to social events. Whether it’s an artistic performance, movie, birthday party, market or something completely different, your client might require some assistance in heading to a social event so that they can ease into the situation and eventually feel more comfortable.
3. Play games that require personal integration
Every client has their own personal development requirements. If you support a client who lives with an intellectual disability, playing board games (or other communication-centric games) may be a great way to build their social ability in a pressure-free environment.
Board games (think Monopoly or Trivial Pursuit) and card games require communication through their gameplay, and are a great way to facilitate conversation and eye contact which are integral to developing social skills.
4. Encourage them to try a new social hobby
This level of social advocation may require some time to encourage, but if you feel your client is ready for a new hobby then you might like to encourage them to get involved!
This may be through the arts – perhaps your client has an artistic streak through music or painting that they would like to explore on a social basis, or could be through physical activities and sporting teams. The most important thing is that you listen to and understand your client’s wishes as this will help you encourage the right form of social engagement for their needs.
5. Encourage public communication
Regardless of whom they wish to speak to: the local Woolies cashier, a cafe waiter – whoever – you can encourage your client to explore ways in which they can communicate with people in a public setting.
This can be facilitated with person-centred active support, a method of supporting your client as they become more involved in social communication. This can be as simple as remaining at the table as your client speaks to a waiter or standing with them as they speak with a cashier at the supermarket to help them feel more comfortable.
With these five important methods, there is a great chance you can help your client become a more socially confident person. Of course, each client differs in their social abilities, and the more public situations might require more time to develop, but this is all part of the commendable role you play in developing their personal and social lives!
