Page 29 - Community Living Magazine 33 - 3

book reviews
Number 2 problems the chart that showed the different types

of poo.
We talked about the advice to support
workers at the end of the book. We think
A dog’s story helps to explain how to recognise, deal with and that support workers should know about
prevent difficulties when using the toilet, explain a group of these things and be looking out for signs,
such as people going to the toilet more or
reviewers with learning disabilities less than usual, and talking to people
about it, especially when working with
people who might not be able to say if
The Trouble with Poo doctor if you are unwell, even if it is a bit they are in pain or are unwell.
Margaret Flynn, Jackie Downer, embarrassing. We thought the instructions about how
Karen Horridge and Dave Robinson The book showed how to know if your to read the book would be better right at
Illustrated by Beth Webb poo is not right and how you would feel. the front instead of at the end. It made a
Beyond Words, 2019, 61pp, There is medicine you can take sometimes lot more sense when we discussed what
paperback: £10; ebook: £4.95 but you should also eat was happening in the
healthy food, drink pictures but we had all
e thought the pictures in the plenty of water and tried to make sense of it
book were very easy to exercise too. You should ourselves before we saw
Wunderstand and we could always wash your hands that we should be
understand the story when we talked after touching animals. talking about it. n
about what was happening in We thought it was
the pictures. very good that it showed This review was written
Some of us had slightly different ideas that you can say no to a by a group of people
about what the story was saying. Some doctor if you do not with learning disabilities
people thought that touching the dog want to be examined. staying as guests at the
when she was eating had made the lady We don’t think doctors Kingsbridge Road respite
unwell; some people thought the dog was always explain this. service in Kensington,
unwell because it was eating chips and We looked at some of London, which is
other food. the information at the managed by the
Having a story of the dog going to the back of the book. The Westminster Society
vet first was a nice way of showing that it explanation of words for People with
is good to go and get checked out by a was helpful as well as Learning Disabilities

Responding to sensory signals disabling impact of sensory issues on
their lives and their relations with others.
These strategies need imagination,
flexibility and empathy because, as
Responsive Communication: Combining It has proved particularly effective as a responsive communication practitioner
Attention to Sensory Issues with Using form of communication and interaction Phoebe Caldwell observes, if people judge
Body Language (Intensive Interaction) to with people with the most profound the sensory experiences of those with
Interact with Autistic Adults and Children disabilities and, more recently, people autism and profound disability by their
Phoebe Caldwell, Elspeth Bradley, Janet with autism. One of its primary effects is own reactions, it can lead only to total
Gurney, Jennifer Heath, Hope Lightowler, to reduce anxiety arising from interaction. misunderstanding.
Kate Richardson and Jemma Swales Responsive communication seeks to This eclectic collection, from Caldwell’s
Pavilion Publishing, 2019, 199pp build on the work of intensive interaction detailed overview to Hope Lightowler’s
Paperback and ebook £24.95 by paying attention to sensory issues. Like shocking account of the overwhelming
intensive interaction, it focuses on body sensory environment of the hospital in
his highly readable and helpful language and non-verbal articulation, but which she was detained, allow us to gain
collection introduces and examines also pays particular attention to supporting numerous
Tthe concept of responsive an environment for the individual that perspectives.
communication, and presents real-life minimises the impact of sensory concerns. Much of the
stories showing it in action. These concerns are wide ranging, and focus is on
In 2001, academic Melanie Nind and can include visual and auditory processing autism, but
Dave Hewett, now director of the Intensive issues, emotional overload, reactions to Janet Gurney
Interactive Institution, relaunched Geraint smell and taste, and both over- and of Us in a
Ephraim’s 1980s concept of “augmented undersensitivity to feelings. Oversensitivity Bus covers
mothering” as “intensive interaction”. can manifest in reactions to footwear and interactions
Since then, it has been used widely and clothes, while undersensitivity can be with people
successfully to tune in to the feelings and expressed through people applying violent with profound
expressive capacities of children and physical stimuli to themselves. disabilities. n
adults through their body language and The book explores various strategies to
other non-verbal communication. enable people to reduce or alleviate the Simon Jarrett

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 33 No 3 | Spring 2020 29