Personal Communication Dictionary (Pcd) English Worksheet printable pdf download

Personal Communication Dictionary (Pcd) English Worksheet

Personal Communication Dictionary (PCD)

Personal Gesture Dictionary (PGD)

A personal communication dictionary is a document that helps to outline the ways in which an

individual communicates. This is important for people who don’t communicate using methods

such as speech, writing or symbols. For people who have complex communication needs it is

important that their communication partners recognise and understand their communication

behaviours. A communication or gesture dictionary can help to ensure that all staff are

aware of the individual's communication behaviours and agree on how to respond. It assists

primary communication partners to respond in a predictable manner to the individual so that

an individual’s communication method is being understood and responded to appropriately.

To create a personal communication dictionary, people who know an individual well need to

observe and describe the person’s behaviours, determine what these behaviours mean and

then agree on an appropriate response.

For example:

Kate’s

Personal Communication Dictionary

Written by David, Jane, John

January 2008

What I do…

What it might mean…

What you should do…

Pull my jumper over my

I’m feeling calm and

Leave me alone.

head.

peaceful.

Wave my hands.

I’m feeling anxious.

Comfort me and try to

remove cause of anxiety (it

may be too noisy).

Reach out with both hands. I’d like to go for a walk.

Take me out for a walk to the

park.

Take me out into the garden.

Personal communication dictionaries need to be regularly reviewed and updated as an

individual’s communication behaviours can change. They also need to have the person’s name,

date it was created and by whom somewhere on the document.

Personal Communication Dictionary (Pcd) English Worksheet