Employment: An aspiration for those with severe communication impairments?

Session

1.2

Research Stream

• • Helen Whittle (Manchester Metropolitan University)

Summary

This paper describes a focus group that involved young adults who use AAC in a discussion of the education system and their aspirations for the future.

Method/Activities/Techniques

The focus group included eight adult participants who use AAC. The group were asked a series of questions about their experiences of education and how prepared they felt for the world of work. They were also asked about their aspirations regarding the work place and to identify any barriers to work. The discussion was recorded verbatim and coded to enable qualitative analysis. Thematic analysis was carried out to identify the main themes discussed in the focus group.

Results/Findings

We will discuss: the support currently available for people who use AAC in their education establishments; how this support could be improved; the value of employment for people who use AAC; other ways of helping people who use AAC into employment or to reach their goals.

Conclusions

The findings from the focus group will be used to make suggestions as to what support should be in place to help people who use AAC to access the world of work and achieve their aspirations.

Level of Session

General

Age Group

Adolescent
Adult

Interest

Secondary school
Special school
Further/Higher Ed.
Adult
Transitions