Evaluation of a model of intervention to create a visually enriched environment

Within a day resource for people with learning disabilities 'stand-alone' signing training proved ineffectual to sustain lasting change in the formalised gestural behaviours of carers. Consideration was given to setting conditions pre- and post-training and a new model of delivery evolved, designed in partnership with day resource staff. Aims of intervention were to promote the adoption and active use of signing as an aid to communication and move towards a partnership framework which values the role of carers as co-facilitators and lessens dependency on the therapist. This paper describes and evaluates a training model which was found to be successful in translating knowledge into changes in practice and discusses the critical factors which should be built into future interventions.