Increasing reciprocal social interactions using collaborative art activities: An intervention for children with complex communication needs and their peers

Abstract

Purpose: Children with complex communication needs who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) strategies to communicate have difficulty participating in interactions with their peers. Integrating a collaborative learning framework with art activities may facilitate social interactions between children with complex communication needs and their peers.

Method: A single-subject withdrawal design was utilised to examine the impact of collaborative art activities on reciprocal social interactions between 2 dyads of participants with complex communication needs and their same-age peers. Additional dependent variables included the roles of participants with complex communication needs in interactions (initiator or responder), AAC modalities (unaided, aided, natural speech), and engagement.

Result:Tau-U calculations for Dyad 1 demonstrated 64% improvement from baseline, indicating moderate effects with the collaborative art activity (Intervention One) and 100% improvement, indicating strong effects following the activity enhanced with photography (Intervention Two). Dyad 2 demonstrated 100% improvement from baseline following Intervention One and 96% improvement following Intervention Two, indicating strong effects.

Conclusion: Both collaborative art activities demonstrated potential for facilitating social interactions for children with complex communication needs and their peers.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• complex communication needs
• participation
• collaborative learning
• social interactions

Supplemental material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2021.1955973.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

¹ The Accent 800 is a product of the Prentke Romich Company, Wooster, OH, www.prentrom.com

² The iPad and iPod are products of Apple Computers Inc., Cupertino, CA, www.apple.com

³ GoTalk Now is a product of the Attainment Company, Verona, WA, www.attainmentcompany.com