Table of ContentsThe Employment Experiences of Individuals with CP who use AAC What is known Research Questions Design Focus Group Participants AAC systems used by participants Four focus group discussions What jobs did they have? Community work-place: full-time What jobs did they have? Community workplace: part-time What jobs did they have? At-home: Business-support What jobs did they have? At-Home: Art, music, and writing Picture of ConferWeb Themes identified in focus group discussions 1) Positive Aspects of Employment 1A) Positive Aspects: Feeling Productive 1B) Positive Aspects: Financial Gain 1C) Positive Aspects: Positive Experience 1D) Positive Aspects: Personal Goals 2) Negative aspects 2A) Negative aspects: Impact on physical/mental health 2B) Negative aspects: Impact on non-employment activities 2C) Negative aspects: Financial issues 3) Barriers 3A) Barriers: Lack of support services 3B) Barriers: Technological 3C) Barriers: Attitudinal 3C) Barriers: Attitudinal (cntd) 3D) Barriers: Policies and Funding 3E) Barriers: Educational/Experiential 3E) Barriers: Educational/Experiential 4) Supports 4A) Supports: Technological 4B) Supports: Policies and funding 4C) Supports: Personal support networks 4C) Supports: Personal support networks 4D) Supports: Educational/Experiential 4E) Supports: Personal characteristics 5) Recommendations 5A) Recommendations to policy makers 5A) Recommendations to policy makers Michael Williams (2000) 5B) Recommendations to individuals who use AAC 5B) Recommendations to individuals who use AAC 5C) Recommendations to technology developers 5D) Recommendations to educators 5E) Recommendations to employers Limitations What does it take to make it work? What does it take to make it work? Other resources: ACETS: Augmentative Communication and Employment Technology Supports Other resources: ACOLUG Employment Forum Other resources: PEC: Pittsburgh Employment Conference Mentoring and Attendant Care August 10 -12, 2001 Future Directions Why are so many consigned to lead lives of needless dependence and silence? Not because we lack the funds. Nor, because we lack the federal policy mandates needed to gain access to these funds. But, rather, because so many find it difficult to believe that individuals with speech difficulties have anything to say or add to life. The AAC-RERC |
Author: David McNaughton
Email: dbm2@psu.edu |