Being a Communication Partner
Communication is a two-way street. How you listen and respond can be the difference between someone being heard, or giving up on being understood.
Why partners matter so much
We tend to think of communication as a skill inside one person. It isn't. It always happens between people. A person can have all the words in the world, but if nobody waits, notices or responds, communication fails.
That means the people around someone, whether family, educators or friends, hold half of every conversation. When partners change how they listen, the person's communication grows without them changing at all.
The heart of it
Presume competence. Assume the person has something to say and can understand more than they can show. Low expectations quietly close conversations before they start.
Accept every form of communication. A glance, a gesture, a sign, a device, a behaviour: treat them all as real communication and respond to them, not just to spoken words.
Give time. Many people need longer to process and respond. Silence isn't absence. It's often someone composing what they want to say. Wait, without filling the gap.
Anyone can be one
Being a good communication partner isn't a professional skill. It's a way of paying attention. It's something a grandparent, a classmate or a barista can do, and every good partner in a person's life widens their world.
If someone in your life uses AAC, learning alongside them is one of the most powerful things you can do. Our guides on understanding Autism and respectful language help too.
Want coaching?
We coach families, educators and teams to become confident communication partners. Get in touch to find out how.