What is Talking Mats?

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What is Talking Mats?

Joan Murphy

2/16/2017 8:08 PM

Talking Mats is a research-based interactive resource that uses three sets of picture communication symbols – topics, options and a visual scale – and a space on which to display them. This can either be a physical textured mat, or a digital space, for example a tablet, smart board or computer screen. Once the topic is chosen e.g., where you live, the participant is given the options one at a time and asked to think about what they feel about each one. They can then place the symbol under the appropriate visual scale symbol to indicate what they feel.

There is a lot of information about Talking Mats on our website including how it works, the research behind it, the resources which are available and how to access training .

In my next post I will discuss how Talking Mats can help decision making and determining capacity?

What support frameworks do you use to support decision making?

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I have used Talking Mats extensively to support individuals to be involved in decisions relating to their lives. Even when individuals have difficulty thinking about abstract concepts, such as how they want to live their lives in the future, they can often still express their preference with the help of Talking Mats, e.g. in relation to what activities they enjoy, what they like/don't like about the place where they live, what they can do themselves, what they might need help with, etc. etc.

Helen Beltran - 2/23/2017

Thanks Helen - we know that the government directives say we must listen to people but they rarely tell us how to do it. You have shown that Talking Mats is one tool that addresses this issue.

Joan Murphy - 2/24/2017

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