All Theses, Dissertations, and Capstone Projects

Year of Award

2023

Degree

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

College of Education & Allied Health

Degree Program

Collaborative High Impact Instruction

Department

Education and Special Education

First Advisor

Gale Rice

Second Advisor

Jenna Voss

Third Advisor

Joanne Fish

Keywords

Augmentative, Alternative, Communication, Iconography, Vocabulary, Minority, Black, Caregiver, Speech, Language, Pathologist

Abstract

The current study investigated the lived experiences of alternative augmentative communication (AAC) users who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and their caregivers during the AAC assessment and intervention stages of treatment. This study primarily focused on the processes experienced and used to select icons to be used on a client’s AAC device. Secondarily the study investigated the lived experiences of Speech-language pathologists in relation to AAC practice at the assessment and intervention stages. The primary investigation centered on icon selection for use on a client’s AAC device. A dearth of literature focuses on the AAC process in relation to the BIPOC population. By exploring their lived experiences, it was possible to determine areas of strength and weakness in AAC practice related to BIPOC individuals and icon selection. Furthermore, this study is positioned to identify areas where improvements in training and education could be made to ensure culturally responsive practices are at the forefront of decision-making in AAC services.

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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