Applying the Social Communication Implementable and Applicable Lens Framework to Intervention
Purpose: The Social Communication Implementable and Applicable Lens (SoCIAL) is a framework that offers a comprehensive, context-sensitive approach to the assessment and intervention of social communication for individuals with brain injury. Building upon foundational models such as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, the Model of Cognitive-Communication Competence, and the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System, SoCIAL emphasizes the interplay of identity, skills, demands, and environment in shaping communicative participation and quality of life. This clinical focus article demonstrates the application of the SoCIAL framework to evidence-based intervention to support holistic, person-centered care. Through a detailed clinical case study, we illustrate how intervention targets and ingredients, collaborative goal setting, and contextual flexibility can be addressed in the context of the framework. Conclusion: The framework's alignment with current literature and guidelines underscores its utility in guiding clinicians to design, implement, and measure evidence-based social communication interventions that develop skills, support meaningful identity reconstruction postinjury, and ultimately promote participation, inclusion, and quality of life.
Authors
- Melissa Brunner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6823-5189)
- Sheila MacDonald (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0932-2060)
- Leanne Togher (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4518-6748)
- Jerry K. Hoepner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0312-5410)
- Elise Elbourn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2398-5036)
- Louise C. Keegan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-3419)
- Peter Meulenbroek
- Mary Kennedy
Institutions
- University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (US)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Chapman University (US)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Moravian University (US)
- Radford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
- Published
- 2026-09-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1044/2026_ajslp-26-00162
- Primary Topic
- Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00