Keywords

Complex communication needs (CCN); Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); social participation; inclusive communication supports; family leisure activities

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Children with complex communication needs (CCN) have difficulty using and/or understanding speech to communicate, thus facing barriers for successful social participation in family-leisure activities due to limited access to communication supports in these environments. Social participation includes an individual’s active involvement in activities that consist of a social element to produce opportunities for meaningful interactions with others. Children with CCN benefit from communication supports, like Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices. AAC supports children with CCN to effectively communicate with themselves, others, and their environment. While communication supports have been recently implemented into private and public spaces, the impact of these initiatives has yet to be robustly examined. PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the impact of providing communication accommodations within family leisure environments through caregiver perception of appropriateness, feasibility, and implementation. METHOD: A case series design incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methods was used. Three caregivers of children with complex communication needs completed a pre-activity interview, attended a themed family leisure activity, and then completed a post-activity survey and a post-activity interview. Prior to the family leisure activity, semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore perceptions of the proposed communication accommodations. Following participation in a family leisure activity, caregiver feedback on the appropriateness, feasibility, and perceived impact of the accommodations were collected through a survey and follow-up interview. Qualitative data were analyzed through conventional content analysis. RESULTS: Survey results indicated the communication accommodations were appropriate, feasible, and supportive of their child’s engagement during the family activity. Post-activity interviews revealed caregivers envisioned implementing communication accommodations across various family-leisure activities, specifically self-paced and less structured environments such as zoos and museums. CONCLUSION: Children with complex communication needs and their families seek for opportunities that promote successful participation and meaningful interactions; however, children with CCN and their families face barriers that affect their ability to do so. Following implementation of communication accommodations within a structured, family-leisure environment, participants reported that communication accommodations are deemed appropriate, feasible, and impactful on their child’s social participation. Aside from positive participant perceptions, communication accommodations, specifically Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) devices, adhere to the Universal Design standard in being easily accessed, understood, and used. With this, future considerations of implementing communication accommodations in family leisure environments should be further explored for increased opportunities of successful social participation.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Summer

Committee Chair

Feuerstein, Julie

Degree

Master of Arts (M.A.)

College

College of Health Professions and Sciences

Department

Communication Sciences and Disorders

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029522

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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