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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:
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.
with regard to the use of manual signs in everyday communication between support workers and adults with ID:
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.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| support workers & AAC users | Support workers who use KeyWordSigning in the communication with their client who has an intellectual disability | ||
| support workers & KWS users | Support workers who use aided AAC in the communication with their client who has an intellectual disability |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Signing rate of support workers and individuals with intellectual disabilities | Proportion: number of signed utterances divided by total number (spoken + exclusively spoken) of utterances | Three observation sessions over period of 2 weeks per participant, 2 years for all participants |
| Sign imitation rate support workers and individuals with intellectual disabilities | Proportion: number of manual sign imitations divided by total number manual signs produced | Three observation sessions over period of 2 weeks per participant, 2 years for all participants |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Explicit Attitude of direct care staff towards manual signs | Self-developed survey with subscales (Likert response): scaled score | One testing per participant, over period of 6 months for all participants |
| Implicit Attitude of direct care staff working in towards manual signs |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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Support workers who work in residential facilities or day-centres for adults with intellectual disability, in Flanders.
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Ellen Rombouts, PhD cand. | KU Leuven | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KULeuven | Leuven | Flanders | Belgium | |||
| Katholieke Universiteit Leuven |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D008607 | Intellectual Disability |
| D007859 | Learning Disabilities |
| D003142 | Communication |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D019954 | Neurobehavioral Manifestations |
| D009461 | Neurologic Manifestations |
| D009422 | Nervous System Diseases |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
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Single-Category Implicit Association Test scores |
| One testing per participant, over period of 6 months for all participants |
| Communicative functions of individuals with intellectual disabilities | Proportion of responses/acknowledgement versus all communicative functions (responses/acknowledgements as well as initiations) | Three observation sessions over period of 2 weeks per participant, 2 years for all participants |
| Leuven |
| Vlaams-Brabant |
| 3000 |
| Belgium |
| KULeuven | Leuven | Vlaams-Brabant | 3000 | Belgium |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |
| D065886 | Neurodevelopmental Disorders |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D003147 | Communication Disorders |
| D001519 | Behavior |