✨ What This Looks Like in Real Life
Developmental disabilities can affect people in different ways. Some impacts may be noticeable right away, while others may appear during routines, communication, transitions, or new environments.
✨ Common Areas That May Be Affected
✨ Communication
Some individuals may have difficulty expressing needs clearly, understanding instructions, or using speech consistently. Communication may include gestures, pictures, devices, or behavior.
✨ Learning and Processing Information
Some individuals may need more time to learn skills, follow directions, or understand new information. They may benefit from step by step guidance, repetition, and visual supports.
✨ Social Interaction and Emotional Regulation
Some individuals may have difficulty reading social cues, handling frustration, or responding to unexpected changes. Support may include preparation, routines, calm communication, and predictable structure.
✨ Mobility and Coordination
Some individuals may have physical limitations that affect walking, balance, fine motor skills, or endurance. They may use mobility aids or require assistance with transfers and safe movement.
✨ Daily Living Skills
Support needs may involve tasks such as hygiene, dressing, meal preparation, medication routines, cleaning, transportation, and safety awareness.
✨ Behavior as Communication
Behavior can be a form of communication, especially when a person is overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or unable to express a need. Challenging behavior may be a sign of pain, confusion, anxiety, sensory overload, or unmet needs.
As a DSP, your job is to:
Observe patterns
Identify triggers
Follow the support plan
Respond calmly and respectfully
✨ Reminder
Do not assume what the person needs based on the diagnosis alone. Support should be individualized based on what works for that person and what is written in the plan.
Next, you will complete an interactive activity to reinforce key concepts before moving into the video lesson and quiz.