Training for working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) focuses on:

Positive behaviour support
Communication strategies
Safety and crisis management
Independence and life skills
Health and condition-specific support
Trauma-informed care

This training is essential for:

Support workers
Nurses
Social care staff
Community teams
Mental health professionals

1. Core Principles of IDD Support

Person-Centred Planning

Support must focus on:

Individual strengths
Personal goals
Choice and control
Independence

👉 The person is always at the centre of planning, not the system.

Supported Decision-Making

Instead of making decisions for someone:

Support them to understand choices
Provide accessible information
Respect their preferences

This promotes autonomy and dignity.

Trauma-Informed Care

Many individuals may have experienced:

Being misunderstood
Institutionalisation
Exclusion or bullying

Staff should:

Avoid assumptions
Respond with empathy
Understand behaviour as communication

2. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

Positive Behaviour Support helps understand behaviour in context.

Key tool: ABC Model

A = Antecedent (what happened before)
B = Behaviour (what the person did)
C = Consequence (what happened after)

This helps staff:

Identify triggers
Reduce distress
Prevent escalation

Behaviour is Communication

Behaviour may indicate:

Pain
Anxiety
Frustration
Communication difficulty

👉 The goal is understanding, not punishment.

3. Communication Support

Key strategies:

Simple, clear language
Short instructions
Visual supports
Gestures and symbols
Patience and repetition

Important principle

If a person cannot express themselves verbally, behaviour may be their communication.

4. Safety, Health & Crisis Support

Mandatory safety training often includes:

First Aid
CPR
Crisis prevention strategies
De-escalation techniques

Safety Care

Staff should know how to:

Respond to distress safely
Prevent harm
Support calming strategies

Health Awareness

Training includes understanding conditions such as:

Autism
Down syndrome
Dementia
Age-related health changes

5. Condition-Specific Understanding

Autism

Sensory sensitivities
Communication differences
Need for routine

Down Syndrome

Learning differences
Health monitoring needs
Ageing-related risks

Dementia (in adults with IDD)

Memory decline
Behavioural changes
Increased support needs

6. Promoting Independence

Support should build skills in:

Daily living
Cooking and meals
Money management
Travel and transport
Employment skills

👉 The goal is maximum independence with support when needed.

7. Training Models & Providers

Key training organisations include:

MHDD National Training Center (free modules on mental health & IDD)
Relias training platform (professional healthcare training system)
SUNY For All (Direct Support Professional certification)
AAIDD (behaviour support and professional development)
START Programme (mental health + IDD crisis support)

Example training focus areas:

Behaviour support planning
Mental health in IDD
Crisis intervention
Professional supervision skills

8. Key Professional Skills

Staff working with adults with IDD should develop:

Observation skills
Emotional awareness
Communication flexibility
Behaviour interpretation
Team collaboration
Calm crisis response

9. Key Message

People with developmental disabilities:

Have the same rights as everyone else
Can learn and grow
Need support that is respectful, consistent, and person-centred

Good training leads to:

Better quality of life
Reduced crisis situations
Greater independence
Safer support environments

Easy Read Version (Module 10)

Working with Adults with Disabilities

People with learning disabilities may need support.

Good support includes:

Talking clearly
Using pictures
Being patient
Helping with choices

Behaviour

Behaviour can be communication.

People may be:

Upset
Confused
In pain

Safety

Staff should:

Keep people safe
Know first aid
Stay calm in emergencies

Independence

People can learn:

Cooking
Money skills
Daily living skills

Important message

Everyone deserves:

Respect
Safety
Choice

PowerPoint Outline (Module 10)

Slide 1: Title

Module 10: Supporting Adults with Developmental Disabilities

Slide 2: Overview

IDD support
Person-centred care
Behaviour understanding

Slide 3: Core Principles

Person-centred
Supported decision-making
Trauma-informed care

Slide 4: Behaviour Support

ABC model
Behaviour as communication

Slide 5: Communication

Simple language
Visual supports

Slide 6: Safety & Health

First aid
Crisis support
De-escalation

Slide 7: Conditions

Autism
Down syndrome
Dementia

Slide 8: Independence

Daily skills
Work skills
Life skills

Slide 9: Training Providers

MHDD
Relias
AAIDD
START

Slide 10: Key Message

Respect, independence, safety

Module 10 Quiz

Multiple Choice

1. Behaviour can be:
A. Random only
B. Communication ✅
C. Ignored

2. ABC stands for:
A. Action-Balance-Control
B. Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence ✅
C. Answer-Begin-Continue

3. Person-centred means:
A. System-focused
B. Individual-focused ✅
C. Task-focused only

4. Trauma-informed care means:
A. Ignoring history
B. Understanding past experiences ✅
C. Punishment

5. Independence means:
A. No support ever
B. Support with skills building ✅
C. Dependence only

Short Answer

6. Name one support skill:
→ __________________________

7. Name one condition in IDD support:
→ __________________________

Where You Are Now (Complete Framework)

You now have a full professional training pathway (Modules 1–10):

LD foundations
Mental health integration
Education and workforce training
Independent living
Safeguarding
Adult IDD support
Behaviour support systems

Next Step Options (You are now at advanced training level)

If you want, I can now build:

OPTION A: FULL TRAINING PROGRAMME

A complete course pack including:

Staff induction programme
Full textbook (Modules 1–10)
Easy Read manual
PowerPoints (trainer-ready)
Worksheets + case studies
Assessments + certificates

OPTION B: MODULE 11 (ADVANCED PRACTICE)

Crisis intervention
Risk assessment
Safeguarding escalation
Complex behaviour support plans
Mental health + IDD overlap

Sunday, 19 April 2026

Module 10: Supporting Adults with Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Overview