I think legal professionals need information on how to recognize the need for communication supports especially when the person’s communication disability is hidden and not obvious.

We also need guidance and procedures about how and when to bring in people who can assist a person communicating what they want to say. And how to recognize when communication assistance is authentic and valid when it is not truly reflecting what a person may want to convey.

I think this resource is important for legal and human rights professionals because it highlights communication supports as the basis for exercising capacity and makes us consider the complexity of issues and the broad range of different types of supports people may need – including what we as legal professionals can do to facilitate effective interactions with our clients, how we can work with and validate assistance provided by support people and ensure people have the tools they need to communicate about a decision topic.