I am working with a client who has a developmental disability. My challenge is that he says “yes” to every question. Any suggestions?

Welcome.

Yeah, I can try that. Thank you!

You may need to rephrase the question several times. An effective technique is to ask a question and then ask it again on another day or at another time. Another is to avoid simple yes-or-no questions. Rather, ask questions that require a sentence in response. Clients with developmental disabilities rarely refuse to see you or respond to a question. They will quickly agree with any plan you develop. In this sense, developmentally disabled clients are "easy." But, because of this, a worker may miss some of the nonverbal objections or negative feelings that a client may be expressing. Thus the worker may miss engaging the client in planning for his/her life appropriately. It is helpful to try to empower your client and to encourage a sense of mastery and control over his/her own life. This is often much more difficult and time-consuming than accepting your client's compliance as a genuine expression of his/her will.