You may know what you want someone to understand and need a different way to share it. You can talk, draw, point, write, sign, or use a communication tool. Pick one message for this page. A helper can give you time without taking over your words.
How to use this page
Choose a message and the way you want to share it. Tell your helper what makes listening easier for you.
Choose your message
Maybe you want help with a task, want to tell a story, or need a break. Your message does not have to be long. You can show just the most important part and add more if you want.
Tell the listener what helps
You might want one question at a time, a picture, extra time, or someone to check what they understood. The listener can ask: Did I get that right? You can correct them without being asked to repeat until you are exhausted.
Reflection prompts
Use these questions in conversation, on paper, or in the downloaded PDF. You may adapt or skip a prompt.
What do I want someone to understand?
What way of sharing works for me today?
What can my listener do to help?
How can I show that they understood or need to try again?
Facilitator notes and adaptation
Preserve access to communication systems and do not force speech or eye contact. Consult qualified speech-language and hearing professionals as indicated. Do not confuse language difference, multilingual development, or dialect with disorder. Adapt for literacy, movement, hearing, and vision without judging intelligence from response format.
Sources behind the concepts
These sources inform the concepts in this original resource. They do not validate or endorse this specific page.