Attitudes of children toward a similar-aged child who uses augmentative communication

Abstract

Two videotape recordings were made of a boy who was physically disabled and nonspeaking. In one, the child communicated using a nonelectronic alphabet board and, in the other, a high-technology augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device. The Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes Toward Children with Handicaps (CATCH) scale was used to assess the attitudes of fifth graders toward this child. One group of fifth graders attended schools in which children with disabilities were integrated. Another group attended schools in which children with disabilities were not integrated. Within these groups, one subgroup watched the nonelectronic video and one the high-technology video. Results indicated significant effects of gender and school on attitude scores, but not of video viewed. Possible reasons, clinical implications, and directions for future research are discussed.

• augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) techniques
• children's attitudes
• gender and attitude
• school integration