Is Awesome Really Awesome? How the Inclusion of Informal Terms on an AAC Device Influences Children's Attitudes toward Peers Who Use AAC

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 56 - 69
• Main Authors: Beck, Ann R, Bock, Stacey, Thompson, James R, Bowman, Linda, Robbins, Stacey
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier 2006; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Assistive Technology; Attitude; Attitude towards mental illness; Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Communication Aids for Disabled; Communication Disorders - therapy; Cooperative Behavior; Disabilities; Female; Gender Differences; Grade 4; Grade 5; Humans; Inclusive Schools; Jargon; Language Usage; Male; Medical sciences; Peer Group; Peer Relationship; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Social psychiatry. Ethnopsychiatry; Student Attitudes; Videotape Recording; Formal communication; Education level; Sex; Conversation; Developmental disorder; Mental retardation; Videotape; Language; AAC device; Children; Child; Age; Communication; Human; Peer relation; Attitude; Attitudes; Experimental study; Informal communication; School age; Treatment; Sociodemographic factor; Social interaction; Intellectual deficiency; Predictive factor; Special education; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2004.11.013

Two videotapes were created of a child communicating with a voice output augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. In one the child communicated using formal English only and in the other the child communicated using formal English and age appropriate informal terms. Children in grades 4 and 5 viewed either the formal English only or the formal and informal English videotape. After viewing the videotape, children completed a measure of self-reported attitudes toward children who use AAC. Results indicated effects for gender and for the gender by grade interaction. These results are discussed along with clinical implications.