Below is a collection of various blogs by Graham Firth, covering a variety of topic areas and issues associated with the theory and practice of Intensive Interaction.
A direct link between sociability and sensory processing disorder?
I was recently notified of a paper: Fotoglou, A. et al (2023) ‘Sociability: The key to sensory processing disorder’, Brazilian Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 2 (No.1), p. 82-97. The paper sets out evidence to support a direct link between sociability and sensory processing disorder. Read on for more information …
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Intensive Interaction, emotional development and emotional well-being: by Melanie Nind
For my blog this week I am summarising a chapter from the book ‘Intensive Interaction: Theoretical Perspectives’ (Ed: Hewett, D. 2011) by Professor Melanie Nind: ‘Intensive Interaction, emotional development and emotional well-being’
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‘Intensive Interaction Week’ from 17th October 2022
I am using this blog to share news that ‘Intensive Interaction Week 2022’ will be the week commencing Monday 17th October 2022. Read on for more detials …
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‘Being with’ and ‘making psychological contact’ through Intensive Interaction
In this Blog I write about the parallels of Intensive Interaction and Person Centred Therapy. Read on for more …
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Transactional Roles and Responsibilities … and Intensive Interaction
In this, my latest Blog, I share a useful adaptation of a training slide on defining ‘transactional roles and responsibilities’. Read on for more information …
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Thinking about the ‘Topic’ of Intensive Interactions.
Thinking about the ‘Topic’ of Intensive Interactions … an interesting issue taken from the paper ‘Understanding the importance of the Partner in Communication Development for Individuals with Sensory and Multiple Disabilities’. Read on for more …
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New paper on using ‘Adaptive Interaction’ with people with dementia
My Blog this week is about a new paper on ‘Using Adaptive Interaction to Simplify Caregiver’s Communication with People with Dementia Who Cannot Speak’ (in Frontiers in Communication, Jan 2022). Read on for more …
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Robbie Gordon: an obituary
I was recently pointed to The Guardian’s ‘Other Lives’ obituary section by my friend Dave Hewett. He sent me a link to the obituary of Robbie Gordon … please read on.
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The ‘double empathy problem’
My Blog this week focuses on the ‘The Double Empathy Problem’ – a description of the ‘breakdown in reciprocity and mutual understanding that can happen between people with very differing ways of experiencing the world.’ The Blog is based on the work of Dr Damian Milton.
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‘Intensive Interaction: an evaluation of two different recording formats’
‘Intensive Interaction: an evaluation of two different recording formats’ – a study looking at the introduction of two different Intensive Interaction paper recording systems in a UK special school. Read on for more…
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A ‘Festive’ Christmas Blog: ‘Good will’ to one and all!
A ‘Festive’ Christmas Blog: sharing ‘good will’ with one and all … even to ‘the loneliest man in the hospital’! Read on for more …
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The ‘Efficacy of Intensive Interaction’ … 25 years on from Melanie Nind’s ground-breaking Intensive Interaction research paper.
For my Blog this week I look back at Melanie Nind’s ground-breaking paper on the ‘Efficacy of Intensive Interaction’, published 25 years ago.
Keep readingAn analysis of the Intensive Interaction ‘Strengths’
As part of the current organisational changes taking place at the Intensive Interaction Institute, we have been asked to contribute to a SWOT analysis (SWOT = Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). I thought it might be useful to share my contribution on our approach’s identifiable ‘Strengths’ …
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Intensive Interaction: ‘A tool for communication’
My blog for this week references an article ‘A tool for communication’ by OT Rebecca Haythorne discussing the role of Intensive Interaction in facilitating meaningful engagement for a man with a learning disability and autism.
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US corporation takes £50 million ‘dividend’ from its UK care services
In a recent edition of Private Eye, they ran a story about Cygnet Health Care, a private company that runs residential and care services across the UK, stating that it is ‘entirely publicly funded by the NHS and local councils. Patients with learning difficulties in its care were slapped, kicked and abused. And now its owners are getting a £50m dividend.’ (https://twitter.com/PrivateEyeNews/status/1319606653520695303) According to Private Eye, the £50 million dividend was paid to the US parent company using a well-recognised tax avoidance mechanism of paying interest on a ‘loan’ to another part of the same company to make sure the company…
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Some reflections on 17 years as a NHS Intensive Interaction Project Leader
A Blog setting out some reflective thoughts on 17 years as an NHS Intensive Interaction Project Leader … Read on for more …
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‘Silent Minority’ TV documentary … the 40th anniversary
The TV documentary ‘Silent Minority’ was first shown on British TV 40 years ago this week – it perhaps did more than anything else to evidence the degrading and inhuman living conditions suffered by many people with learning disabilities in large scale institutional care at the time. Read on for more…
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Is what I am doing Intensive Interaction or not?
So, how do I know if I am doing Intensive Interaction with a person? For my Blog this week I am reproducing a slightly abridged section of the FAQs document from the Intensive Interaction ‘Adult Services Documents’ and ‘Curriculum Documents for Schools’ packs.
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On Dave Hewett and the II Institute …
A personal acknowledgement of the unstinting and vital work of Dr Dave Hewett OBE as he steps back from his leading role and directorship of the Intensive Interaction Institute.
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30 Years of Intensive Interaction Research
This Blog revisits the first published Intensive Interaction research paper (that is now nearly 30 years old) – illustrating just how long-standing and well-established Intensive Interaction research now is.
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