Implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication for People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities: Specialist Perceptions

This study aimed to identify the perceptions of specialists working with people with severe intellectual disabilities regarding the implementation of augmentative and alternative communication. A qualitative approach was used to analyse semi-structured interviews with nine specialists working with people with severe intellectual disabilities at the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Centres in Saudi Arabia. The main results indicated that all specialists had some knowledge of the use of augmentative and alternative communication methods for facilitating communication with people with severe intellectual disabilities, and a diversity of means and methods were discussed. Visual methods were the most widely used at these centres, however, while technological means were the least commonly used by specialists, despite their acknowledged importance. Near consensus also emerged among the specialists regarding the effectiveness and success of such methods in terms of communicating with people with severe intellectual disabilities. The results of the study also indicated that specialists faced numerous challenges in terms implementing augmentative and alternative communication from the people with severe intellectual disabilities themselves, as well as other specialists and centre procedures and staff. The most important proposed solutions for overcoming these challenges was the implementation of training courses to enable specialists to develop their capabilities regarding the use of more diverse methods and the implementation of augmentative and alternative communication with people with severe intellectual disabilities in a manner that allowed them to identify and select those augmentative and alternative communication methods that best align with the capabilities and needs of the relevant persons with severe intellectual disabilities.