Enabling independence using Talking Mats
At CENMAC we are keen to continue to develop the ways we are person-centred in our approaches with the children and young people we work with, to help to build their self-determination skills, independence and have a voice in the areas which matter most to them.
One of the most effective tools to help achieve these skills are Talking Mats. First developed via research at the University of Stirling and now used worldwide Talking Mats provides a visual framework and method to empower individuals to have meaningful conversations and build positive relationships.
Talking Mats Foundation Training for the CENMAC Team
Having trained as a Talking Mats Licenced Trainer earlier in the year I’m pleased to have the opportunity to now train all members of the CENMAC team in the Talking Mats Foundation Training.
I’m excited by the conversations and possibilities for embedding Talking Mats within our service. As technology is rapidly changing and developing it is important the children and young people we work with understand their rights to make choices and express their opinions.
The CENMAC Team of Advisory Teachers, Specialist TAs, Advisory SALTs and OTs doing Talking Mats training
What is a Talking Mat?
Here, you can see an example of a (digital) Talking Mat. It is made up of three sets of picture communication symbols – Topic, Options and a visual scale – and a space on which to display them. Once the topic has been chosen, the participant is given the options one at a time and asked to think about each one, placing it on the Talking Mat to indicate how they feel about it for example they are happy about it, they are not happy about it or they are not sure.
Talking Mats work because it creates the space to think, be listened to in a non-judgemental way, to then reflect and have your voice heard.
Talking Mats support comprehension by:
- Helping people process concepts by breaking information down into small, manageable chunks
- Allowing the client time to process information and respond in their own time
- Reducing memory demands
Talking Mats improve quality of information by:
- Handing over control to the thinker
- Providing a structured framework for open questions
- Reducing anxiety
- Supporting people to express how they really feel.
Example of a Digital Talking Mat
Research on Talking Mats
The development of Talking Mats has led to extensive research Publications on Communication Disability Talking Mats and now a range of resources to support conversations around AAC, Health and Social Care, Keeping Safe, Me and My Senses and many more.
Helping to give our children and young people a stronger voice
The CENMAC team are already talking about specific resources and ways to further support our students in their communication skills and supporting a stronger voice in our CENMAC assessments and reviews. I’m looking forward to hearing about the surprising, joyful and meaningful conversations the team and our students may have with this brilliant framework.
An example of a Talking Mat during the CENMAC team training session
Blog Author: Kathryn Stowell, Head of CENMAC. Kathryn is a Talking Mats Licenced Trainer. Being a licenced trainer allows you to train others to use Talking Mats. This can be in your own Organsiation or within a Partnership.
