Group Work Activities and difficulties with Speech
Remember, disability is a highly individualised experience. People with the same disability may have very different capabilities and/or needs, so it is always best to discuss any adaptations to practice, the environment or equipment directly with the disabled person themselves rather than making assumptions about what adjustments may be suitable.
Group work is a form of cooperative learning which aims to develop students knowledge, generic skills, (e.g. communication skills, collaborative skills, critical thinking skills) and attitudes. The ability to participate effectively in group work or team work is seen as a desirable employability skill and should be considered part of every learner’s educational experience.
Good communication is crucial for effective group work. Frequently, for most people working in a group, the main means of communication is through speech, though technology has now developed to the point where ‘chat’, ‘blogs’, SMS texting and emails are all very helpful supplementary ways of communicating with each other.
People with speech difficulties may include those with dyslexia, those with hearing impairments who use British Sign Language (BSL) as their first language, overseas students with English as their second language. Within a group, there may be a broad range of difficulties experienced and the strategies used to overcome them will depend on the individual needs of the learner.
It is essential that the teacher works with the group and the disabled learner to identify the best method for communicating; this may be as simple as waiting patiently for the person with the speech impediment to make themselves understood, or it may be more appropriate to use a note book and pen, email or text, for example.
