Interaction between children with cerebral palsy and their peers 1: Organizing and understanding VOCA use

Abstract

This paper is the first in a series of two that use the principles and practices of Conversation Analysis (CA) in an examination of voice output communication aid (VOCA) use in two conversations, each involving a child with cerebral palsy with complex communication needs who used a VOCA and a peer without complex communication needs. The primary theme of this paper concerns how VOCA use is incorporated into children's peer interactions. A significant feature of each dyad is the way in which naturally speaking partners organized specific locations within the conversation for the production of VOCA-mediated turns. Such practices provide frameworks within which VOCA-mediated contributions can be understood. Issues concerned with asymmetries in children's peer interaction are discussed.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• Voice output communication aids
• Children
• Peer interaction
• Conversation analysis