Social Communication between Intellectually Disabled Severe Middle School Students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication and their Typically Developing Peers

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Sarah Frueh (Creator)
Institution
East Carolina University (ECU )
Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/
Advisor
Kathleen Cox

Abstract: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices are often used as a mode of communication for people who cannot use spoken language to meet all of their communication needs. Current research is limited regarding social communication among Intellectually Disabled Severe (IDS) students who communicate with AAC and their typically developing peers. The purpose of this study was to determine whether social communication occurs among middle school students enrolled in an IDS classroom and typically developing peers and whether a treatment program improved social interaction. Five middle school students participated in this study; two IDS students who use AAC and three typically developing peers. Each peer participated in a training program regarding idiosyncratic gestures and appropriate interaction with AAC users. Each Intellectually Disabled Severe student received added social vocabulary/messages on their individual AAC devices and training in their use. Results revealed that peer training along with available social vocabulary/messages increased social communication among peers in a middle school IDS classroom. 

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Date: 2013
Keywords
Speech therapy, Special education, AAC, Intellectually Disabled, Severe, Peer interaction, Social Interaction

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This item references:

TitleLocation & LinkType of Relationship
Social Communication between Intellectually Disabled Severe Middle School Students who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication and their Typically Developing Peershttp://hdl.handle.net/10342/1812The described resource references, cites, or otherwise points to the related resource.