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Key Word Signing Usage in Residential and Day Care Programs for Adults With Intellectual Disability
Author(s) -
Meuris Kristien,
Maes Bea,
Zink Inge
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of policy and practice in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 1741-1130
pISSN - 1741-1122
DOI - 10.1111/jppi.12093
Subject(s) - augmentative and alternative communication , intellectual disability , psychology , sign language , quarter (canadian coin) , inclusion (mineral) , phone , sign (mathematics) , everyday life , medical education , applied psychology , medicine , social psychology , linguistics , psychiatry , philosophy , archaeology , history , mathematical analysis , mathematics , political science , law
Key word signing ( KWS ) is a means of augmentative and alternative communication frequently used with adults with intellectual disabilities ( ID ). Their acquisition of KWS has been described in the literature; however, little is known about the everyday KWS use among adults with ID and their support staff. This study aimed to give an account of the prevalence of KWS and the sign knowledge of adults with ID and their support staff in F lemish residential programs ( RP s) and day care programs ( DCP s). Communication specialists in all RP s and DCP s for adults with ID in F landers, the D utch‐speaking part of B elgium, were contacted by phone and were asked whether they used KWS , and if so, whether they were willing to fill out a questionnaire about the KWS use of support staff and clients. Findings show that of 347 RP s and DCP s in F landers, 85% met the inclusion criteria. Half (51.2%) of these programs used KWS . Of these 152 programs, 93 (61.2%) completed our questionnaire. A quarter (26.6%) of their adult clients with ID used KWS . Most of them knew 10–50 signs, whereas most support staff knew fewer than 10 signs. The presence of a speech and language therapist as well as sign knowledge and attitude of support staff were significantly related to the sign knowledge of their clients. Motivational problems for staff to use KWS were quite common. KWS support should be more widespread and more easily accessible.