Assignment task: Tony is a 26-year-old man with multiple sclerosis living in a supported residence with Max, a 29-year-old man with an intellectual disability, and Tom, a 23-year-old man with ASD (with very limited speech).
1. Identify specific communication needs that Tom might have.
2. Conflict has developed between Max and Tony over seating at the meal table; they both prefer the seat near the window. How could a disability support worker use communication strategy to provide a brief intervention?
3. Communication with Tom has reached a point where it is about to break down because he is often very difficult to understand due to having very little speech. What could staff do?
4. Identify an agency or group in your local area that could assist Tony, Max and Tom to exercise their rights and independence. Explain the services they could provide and how Tony, Max and Tom could contact them.
5. Max showers independently, but after a short time in the residential unit, staff and other clients observe a strong body odour when in close proximity to Max. What approaches could workers use to facilitate the empowerment of Max to improve his standard of personal hygiene?
6. List eight support services that Tony, Max and Tom might access.
7. A worker coming on duty in the residential unit notices that Tony is holding his upper arm, and when the worker checks his arm they notice deep bruise marks about the size of fingers forming on Tony's arm. What might this indicate, and how should the worker respond?
8. Explain the intent of Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and outline the proposed benefits of the scheme.