Support Staff-client Interactions With Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Support Staff-client Interactions With Augmentative and Alternative Communication
This exploratory and observational study focuses on adults with an intellectual disability
 (ID) and their support workers. Two groups of clients are observed: clients using Key Word
 Signing, and clients using aided Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
 Approximately half of adults with ID is estimated to experience communication difficulties.
 AAC supports them in their daily communication aiming at optimal participation in society.
 Current communication models, such as Participation Model (Beukelman & Mirenda, 2005) and
 International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (WHO, 2001), regard both
 client-related and environmental factors as important elements of communication. A
 substantial part of the environmental factors is made up of the communication partners'
 characteristics. In daycare and residential services for adults with ID the support worker is
 an important communication partner .
This study aims to:

 1. with regard to teaching Key Word Signing (KWS), a specific form of AAC, to support
 workers:

 Analyse the relation between training method, support workers' attitude, and short and
 long term sign knowledge.

 2. with regard to the use of manual signs in everyday communication between support workers
 and adults with ID:

 -  Identity the support workers' characteristics that may influence the
 quality/quantity of the communication between adults with ID who use manual signs
 and their support worker.

 -  Analyse the nature of this influence as well as any possible interaction effects
 with the clients' characteristics.

 3. Assess whether an existing instrument, designed for measuring interactions between
 parents and children with cerebral palsy using AAC, may be used with adults client and
 support workers.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  uses AAC with client

 -  client has congenital intellectual disability

 -  supports client for at least 6 months

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  client has dementia symptoms

 -  client has severe, non-corrected visual impairment

 -  client has diagnosed autism