Implications for Our Work

• Presume Competence and Presume Intellect

• “Reestimate them as smart.” DJ Savarese, Reasonable People

• Recognize that without fluent complex communication, a person is at risk of being presumed to have limited intellect and of being labeled as intellectually disabled, mentally retarded, not capable of understanding, etc. This puts the person at risk for limited access to communication training.

• Communication training needs to focus on interactive conversation and not just “wish filling” (fulfilling wishes, offering and honoring choices).