The Intensive Interaction Service is part of the Education Outreach Service and we work to promote inclusion and improve outcomes for children and young people across Shetland.
Intensive Interaction provides a practical approach to support interaction and learning for people who are at an early stage of communication development.
What is Intensive Interaction?
Intensive Interaction is a learner led approach for those who do not find it easy communicating or being social. It supports the development of early communication and interaction skills through participation in relaxed and meaningful interaction sequences with a communication partner.
Developed by Dave Hewett PhD and Melanie Nind PhD in the 1980’s, it aims to teach the basic ‘Fundamentals of Communication’ as well as helping develop sociability, cognitive abilities and emotional wellbeing.
Intensive Interaction supports the person to develop competence and confidence as a communicator. We can use Intensive Interaction at any time and in any place, taking opportunities as they arise.
Who is Intensive Interaction for?
Intensive Interaction can support anyone who is at the earliest stages of communication development (non-verbal). It is particularly useful for anyone who may have profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD), physical or sensory impairments and/or Autism (ASD).
Intensive Interaction is also useful to those with some speech and language ability, who would still benefit from further learning and development in the area of the ‘Fundamentals of Communication. The approach is used by a wide range of professionals and families world wide.
Requests for involvement can be made through schools, health professionals and other agencies (following parent and/or child/young person consent) or parents/carers.