Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and the graduate student educational experience
Keyword
Communication disordersCommunication
augmentative and alternative communication systems
Curriculum
Speech-language pathology
Graduate students
Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Human communication
Term and Year
Spring 2022Date Published
2022-05Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
This thesis examines how augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) fits into the communication disorders graduate student curriculum, as well as graduate student feelings and attitudes towards AAC. The current project was composed of two surveys: a survey of communication disorders graduate programs to determine how AAC fits into their curricula, and a survey of current communication disorders graduate students to determine their level of interest, prior knowledge, and comfort in using AAC in their future clinical practice. Results of the graduate programs survey revealed that there is no universal way that AAC is incorporated into the graduate school curriculum. Data show a mix of required, elective, or no course offered on AAC. Initial data from the graduate student survey indicate that students generally have a high degree of interest in AAC. AAC is a useful tool that speech-language pathologists may use in their clinical practice with patients, and the current study reveals a potential area of increased need in communication disorders graduate education to match student interest.The following license files are associated with this item:
- Creative Commons
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
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