Message from the Executive Director

Perspective（44） "The Process of Developing Expression of Intentions and Its Consideration"

People have their own will and emotions. It is important for a person’s will to be respected in order for them to live a life of consent. The foundation is still the same, even for people with disabilities, or slow development! Let’s look at the process of developing expression of intentions. 　The way a person has relationships with others is reflected in the expression of their intentions. Generally speaking, the process can be classified into several stages as below, from the stage of avoiding people and protecting themselves to the stage of having confidence and expressing themselves to others. 　   Characteristic Behaviors/Expressions �@ Avoidance/Escape ・Avoiding a place/Leaving/Looking away Physical Response ・Salivating/Dry throat/Getting a temperature/Tic disorder/Self-injury ・Stamping their foot in frustration �A Defensive Response ・Not opening their mouth/Not using their voice/Not moving from one 　place/Draining of strength ・Turning away/Closing their eyes/Covering their ears �B Rebellion (Appeal) ・Pushing away with their hands/Spitting/Voicing complaints/Appealing with 　their eyes ・Aggressive behaviors such as pushing, hitting, biting, and head-butting �C Self-assertion ・Shaking their head to express their feelings/Appealing by saying “No” and 　“Don’t” (Appealing desperately → Communicating calmly) ・Smiling when they consent, nodding, and answering, “Yup” and “Yes” 　※Sometimes there can be nodding and answering without consent also. �D Interaction ・Communicating their dislikes/Having their say ・Finding a compromise/Self-control 　A child’s expression of their intentions develops through communication with adults close to them. Reassurance and consent depend on how staff and guardians are able to read the intentions and feelings that lie behind their behaviors, and respond appropriately. 　We’ll try to grasp the child’s behaviors as an expression of their intentions to the best of their ability and try to understand what they don’t like and what they are trying to appeal at any stage from �@ to �D. We’ll try to give simple explanations, listen to their intentions, and wait for them to express themselves when we invite them even if they don’t answer to begin with. By enquiring their intentions: “Don’t you like X?”, “What do you want to do?”, and “Which one do you want?” an attitude of expressing their intentions to others is going to build up in their mind (slowly, but surely). If the intention they express is respected, they will express themselves clearer next time, because they received an enthusiastic response the first time. 　Then again, if we approach them with the attitude of ordering them around or showing our strong intentions -forcing them to do something or not wanting them to do something, the individual will develop a strong inclination for rebellion, or conversely, they will suppress their intentions and become subordinate. As a result, anger will accumulate in their mind, and there will be an ingrained doubt. 　 It’s not too much to say that our understanding and approach towards the individual will affect their future.

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