Intensive Interaction in Richmond
Creating and nurturing a community of Intensive Interaction practitioners,
providing support and encouragement to each other and introducing others to this
approach.
June 2009 – Discussion Forum
These forums give people the chance to share and learn from each other. They provide an
opportunity among other things to look at barriers to this work and time to reflect on
inspiring stories and learn from them.
What’s been going on?
Training staff in Intensive Interaction – Radhika (Speech and Language Therapist) and
Hannah (Assistant Speech and Language Therapist) are training staff at Richmond College to
support an individual who attends there with Intensive Interaction (II) sessions. They are
supporting staff to introduce regular formal sessions.
Staff at the college are also keen to incorporate Intensive Interaction techniques into
everyday interactions having seen improved eye contact and initiation levels.
Staff at the college requested sessions to be videoed in order for them to see progress and
learn more about intensive interaction.
Using Intensive Interaction to develop relationships
H discussed using II informally to build positive relationships with individuals who do not
use words to communicate. H gave an example of making the task of putting on a coat into a
game and enjoyable for that individual. As a consequence the individual took the lead and
performed the task himself.
H would like to continue the development of informal intensive interaction.
Introducing Intensive Interaction with sensory materials.
E is using II with individuals during sensory activities like storytelling, clapping games and
hand massage. Individuals have responded positively using facial expressions and occasional
laughter as well as reduced moaning and teeth grinding.
E gave the example of an individual responding to massage by touching the cream and
putting it on her hand.
E would like to develop Intensive Interaction sessions in the sensory room the home are
gradually developing.
Introducing and Developing Intensive Interaction practice
J has considerable experience of using intensive interaction and would like to develop
practice in her current workplace. At the moment it is being used informally on a 1-1 basis. J
is keen for other staff to receive training and to introduce a more structured approach.
J has requested input from SALT to support the home with developing this approach.
Introducing Intensive Interaction into a residential home
D’s manager has been keen to promote this approach, and has set up some training
opportunities. Training and support has also been provided by SALT. There has definitely
been increased use of formal and informal II in the house. Structured sessions are
incorporated into shift plans and progress evaluated through record forms. There is now a
clear expectation that everyone will use Intensive Interaction as this home.
It may be helpful to film some sessions to provide feedback about progress and to recognise
achievements.
General Feedback:
 Initial training for all staff in a home can help get everyone on board and make it
easier for individuals to practice intensive interaction. Group feedback can also be
very helpful and can help give a sense of team achievement. Staff doing intensive
interaction on their own can sometimes feel unsupported or even criticised if other
team members don’t understand the importance of what they are doing.
 A structured approach may be helpful when first introducing Intensive Interaction.
Structure gives people the time and space to practice and reflect on intensive
interaction sessions. It can also help provide measurable feedback about progress.
Ideally intensive interaction will also become adopted in everyday interactions.
 A named person can be effective in taking the lead when initially developing intensive
interaction in group settings.
 It helps to implement Intensive Interaction when the manager is on board with the
approach and can demonstrate this by participating in intensive interaction sessions.
 Consider filming intensive interaction as a way of monitoring progress and educating
others.
A Parental approach to using Intensive Interaction
One parent discussed how she uses intensive interaction successfully with her autistic son. It
has become an important part of everyday life and it is equally important for her to use it
when out in the community. Recently she has been using II and story telling.
She is keen to promote public awareness about intensive interaction and to encourage an
acceptance of its practice in public settings.
Storytelling
Deborah (SLT) explained that using a story can be a good way of adding some structure to
intensive interaction sessions. The forum discussed what a good sensory element is. For
example you could make a story about something personal like their favourite activity.
Stories can include interaction to expand on the bits the individual responds to as well as
build in opportunities to communicate e.g. pauses to allow the person to communicate and
rhythm to establish turn taking. Music, signs, intonation, facial expressions, props can also
be used to keep the story fun and engaging.
E’s Story
Deborah (SLT) and E’s parent explained how they introduced storytelling for one individual.
Not only does this person enjoy participating in storytelling sessions with the whole family
but his communication has improved. He has learnt to use a Big Mac switch to communicate
“more” when he would like more and “Ernie says” at the correct bit in the story.
L’s Story
Radhika (SLT) has developed a story about one of L’s favourite activities…going to the
park. L has over time started to sit for longer periods and display emotions during the story.
Radhika tries to draw on what L initiates during the story and expand on it. For example
using L’s favourite rope to hold and rock like a boat.
Forum’s Story
The forum made up a story about a surprise birthday party. This was to practice making and
adapting stories to promote intensive interaction. It is important to try to incorporate
individuals responses into the story e.g. If a person gets excited and jumps at a bit then you
could do the same and even elaborate this bit of the story.
Requests for future Support.
Deborah (SLT) asked if people would be interested in a specialist workshop that people
could attend with a particular individual. A workshop could consist of a two hour session per
day for two to three days. This would help develop skills in intensive interaction as well
provide an opportunity to reflect on video footage of practice.
Lucy to send out flyer to homes to see if they are interested in SLT holding a workshop in
the Autumn.
Next forum to be held on
Wednesday 8th July 2009
10 – 12 noon,
Whitton Community Resource Centre
1 Britannia Lane,
Whitton, TW2 7JX
Middx
For more information about Intensive Interaction Forums please contact
Lucy Harrison on lucy.harrison@mac.com or
Deborah Green on deborah.green@kpct.nhs.uk