Making Directions Easier
to Follow
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Problem
People
with mental retardation often have problems when it comes to following directions during
self-care, leisure or other activities. This is especially true when there is a
sensory problem.
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Poor vision can make following pictures, demonstrations, signed
instructions or written instructions difficult or impossible.
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Poor hearing makes it
hard to follow spoken directions.
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Additional memory or organization issues can keep
an individual who understands directions from being able to follow or remember them.
Related
Functional Limitations:
Vision, Hearing, Memory/Organization
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Solution 1: Use
an Alternative Method for Giving Direction.
Ideas:
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Coding: Put a “B” on all the
boxes of breakfast foods, “L” for lunch items, etc.
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Labeling: Label all of one
person’s belongings with red dots.
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Pictures: Use a series of
pictures to “describe” the steps of brushing your teeth. Put a picture of a
shirt on the shirt drawer.
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Recording: To ensure
thoroughness, play a tape that slowly states the steps of showering.
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Tactile: (Usually for those with
low vision) Substitute an area of texture (i.e., fabric) for a colored label.
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Set-up: Set items up in the order
they are to be used. Teach the individual to do a variety of tasks, such as
making a sandwich and preparing a toothbrush, in the same
order, for instance, from left to right.
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Proximity: Aid poor memories by
putting things “in the way” and “on the way.” Put potholders on top of
the pans in the cabinet. Hang a coat on the doorknob. Store all the
materials needed for the morning wash-up together in one basket.
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Solution 2: Reduce the Number of Possible Choices.
Ideas:
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Cover up unnecessary buttons or
switches on appliances. For instance, leave only the “one minute” and start
buttons uncovered on the microwave.
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Use a single, adapted switch.
Instead of finding the right button on the TV remote, use a single switch with a control
unit to turn on a pre-selected station.
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