Hettiarachchi Shyamani, Kitnasamy Gopi, Gopi Dilani
Department of Disability Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2020 Feb;15(2):183-194. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2018.1554713. Epub 2019 Feb 8.
Parental perceptions are key to the uptake of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices for their children with complex communication needs. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of parents in a resource poor Global South country on the use of mobile technology as AAC devices. Sixteen participants (11 female; 5 male) were included in the study. Focus group discussions, face-to-face interviews and telephone interviews were conducted with the aid of an interview guide. The interview data were analysed using the key principles of Framework analysis and through the lens of critical disability studies. Six broad themes emerged. Most participants indicated a penchant for mobile technology, though its current use with their children was mainly as a teaching tool rather than a communication device. Concerns were raised about the cost of mobile technology, which if used within communication, was only as a temporary stop-gap measure with limited knowledge. The power of mainstream technology to challenge prevalent notions of disability was also highlighted by the participants. There is an openness to using mainstream mobile technology by parents with their children with complex communication needs. This use is currently reserved mainly for educational purposes while its power to challenge disability-related stereotypes is acknowledged. More parent training is required to encourage the use of mobile technology as AAC devices for communication.Implications for rehabilitationCurrent parent perspectives on mobile technology as AAC devices must be explored, given its potential impact on the uptake of these devices to support communication in their children with complex communication needs.Mainstream mobile technology could challenge perceptions of disability and therefore, be more acceptable to parents for their children with complex communication needs.Parental training is required to increase knowledge on the use of mobile technology as AAC devices for communication to enable informed choice-making.
家长的认知对于为有复杂沟通需求的孩子采用辅助和替代沟通（AAC）设备至关重要。本研究旨在探索一个资源匮乏的南半球国家的家长对于将移动技术用作AAC设备的认知。该研究纳入了16名参与者（11名女性；5名男性）。在一份访谈指南的帮助下，进行了焦点小组讨论、面对面访谈和电话访谈。使用框架分析的关键原则并通过批判性残疾研究的视角对访谈数据进行了分析。出现了六个广泛的主题。大多数参与者表示对移动技术有偏好，尽管目前他们与孩子使用移动技术主要是作为教学工具而非沟通设备。有人对移动技术的成本表示担忧，如果将其用于沟通，也只是作为一种临时的权宜之计，且相关知识有限。参与者还强调了主流技术挑战普遍存在的残疾观念的力量。有复杂沟通需求的孩子的家长对使用主流移动技术持开放态度。目前这种使用主要限于教育目的，同时其挑战与残疾相关刻板印象的力量也得到认可。需要更多的家长培训来鼓励将移动技术用作AAC沟通设备。
对康复的启示
鉴于移动技术作为AAC设备可能对有复杂沟通需求的孩子采用这些设备以支持其沟通产生潜在影响，必须探索家长目前对移动技术作为AAC设备的看法。
主流移动技术可以挑战对残疾的认知，因此，对于有复杂沟通需求的孩子的家长来说可能更容易接受。
需要进行家长培训，以增加关于将移动技术用作AAC沟通设备的知识，从而能够做出明智的选择。
