Open AccessCaregivers’ Perception of the IPad’s Utility for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): A Conflict between Illusion and Reality
Author(s) -
Anna A. Allen,
Charles Jeans,
Laura J. Ball,
A. J. Guarino
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
world journal of educational research (los angeles. online)/world journal of educational research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2375-9771
pISSN - 2333-5998
DOI - 10.22158/wjer.v2n1p39
Subject(s) - helpfulness , illusion , perception , augmentative and alternative communication , psychology , affordance , autism spectrum disorder , autism , applied psychology , multimedia , social psychology , developmental psychology , computer science , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , psychiatry
The primary purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of the iPad’s utility for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A sample of 15 caregivers, eight of whom cared for individuals who had iPads (“users”) and seven of whom cared for individuals who did not have iPads (“non-users”), responded to a survey created by the authors to identify possible helpfulness of the iPad’s for enhancing communication. Non-users’ perceptions of the potential utility of the iPad were statistically significantly greater than those of the caregivers who had utilized the iPad for AAC. These findings strongly suggest a conflict between the non-users’ illusions and the users’ subjective reality regarding the iPad’s potential to improve communication skills.