TY - JOUR PY - 2007// TI - Do touch: physical contact and people who have severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties JO - Support for Learning A1 - Hewett, Dave SP - 116 EP - 123 VL - 22 IS - 3 N2 - Dave Hewett PhD. is well known within the education and care fields for his invaluable work on communication with both children and adults who have severe and profound learning difficulties (with or without autism). However, because his work until recent times has tended to occur within more segregated services, he is only now becoming known to staff working in mainstream education as the children with more severe learning and communication difficulties are beginning to receive inclusive schooling. In this article he shares his thoughts, backed up with research, on the importance of touch for us all, but focusing on the reasons this needs special attention for those who have profound additional disabilities. Before concluding, the author offers us some very useful tools when working with children where touch and intensive interaction may be part of a teaching programme to help in building a relationship, and opening early communication channels.

LA - SN - 0268-2141 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9604.2007.00458.x ID - ref1 ER -