Back in 2012 I started training in something called RDI, a programme based in America that focused on changing our own communications to support better social connection with Autistic young people. It was there that I learned about declarative communication as a way of essentially sharing more of your own intention, to make it more accessible to the young person, without the demand and focus on them of more instructive or questioning communication.
Declarative communication is the opposite to directive or imperative communication, which requires a response. This also includes questions. Declarative requires no response.
I started to make it part of my general communication style, as it made such an incredible difference in interactions with all the different young people I was working with. At the same time I was attending lots of training and studying lots of the literature around PDA {Pathological Demand Avoidance], to better support a number of young people I worked with that fit that profile. The declaratives tied up really nicely with the ideas of creating distance and, as the PDA society still uses the term, 'disguising demands.'
I have been teaching professionals and parents the approaches that worked for me since that time. It is the one change that I get the most feedback from after courses or 1-1 consultations that makes a huge difference. With lots of neurodivergent young people, not just those with demand avoidance. In fact, I believe, with all young people.
I disagree with the principle of disguising demands and prefer these days to look at using them to actually decrease demand and present feedback and deliver information to a young person without confrontation or too much authority. Unfortunately, I think the use of them as a disguise can cause a break in trust with the young person and mean they get tied up with more demanding, punitive approaches.
So whether you have never heard of declarative communication; are putting it in place but need some support and ideas; have been using it for years but would like some fresh input into it then I have put this webinar together to share over a decade of experience using it in practice with hundreds of Neurodivergent young people and their families.
