We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Identifying Implementation Strategies to Increase Augmentative and Alternative Communication Adoption in Early Childhood Classrooms: A Qualitative Study.
- Authors
Quinn, Emily D.; Kurin, Kim; Atkins, Kristi L.; Cook, Alexandria
- Abstract
Purpose: The goal of this study was to identify promising implementation strategies that may increase teachers' and speech-language pathologists' (SLPs) adoption of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) during routine classroom activities. Method: A grounded theory approach was used to collect and code online, semistructured interviews with six special education teachers and 14 SLPs who taught children aged 3-8 years who used AAC in inclusive and self-contained special education classrooms. Interviews were transcribed and coded verbatim using the constant comparative method. During a member checking process, six participants (n = 30%) confirmed their transcripts and commented on emerging themes. Results: Participants shared a range of implementation strategies to increase AAC use during typical classroom activities, which were organized into seven themes: distribute modern AAC equipment, provide foundational training, share video examples, develop a systematic plan for adoption, deliver practice-based coaching, alter personnel obligations to provide protected time, and connect with professionals. A preliminary thematic map was created to link implementation barriers, strategies, and potential outcomes. Conclusions: AAC interventions effective in clinical research can be difficult to translate into routine practice unless investigators directly explore the needs of and demands on educational professionals. Future research should define implementation strategies clearly, solicit feedback from school-personnel, and match implementation strategies to the needs of local schools to support the uptake of AAC interventions in routine classroom settings. Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.23699757
- Subjects
EDUCATION of college teachers; SCHOOL environment; SPECIAL education; RESEARCH; ATTITUDES of medical personnel; RESEARCH methodology; COLLEGE teacher attitudes; INTERVIEWING; COMMUNICATIVE disorders; HUMAN services programs; CONCEPTUAL structures; QUALITATIVE research; SPEECH therapy education; COMMUNICATION devices for people with disabilities; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; RESEARCH funding; PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation; THEMATIC analysis; JUDGMENT sampling; DATA analysis software; SPEECH therapists; EDUCATIONAL outcomes; CHILDREN
- Publication
Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools, 2023, Vol 54, Issue 4, p1136
- ISSN
0161-1461
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1044/2023_LSHSS-22-00186