Examining perceptions of a communication course for parents of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities

Figures & data

Table 1. Overview of the ComAlong course’s eight sessions.

Theme	Primary Focus	Homework Assignment
1. Communication	An overview of interpersonal communication and interaction.	Identify the different ways the child expresses himself/herself in everyday life.
2. Communication development	The five steps of communication development, ranging from unintentional actions to using combined symbols.	Identify how far the child has progressed in their communication development.
3. Being your child’s communication partner	Responsive communication strategies and environmental-milieu teaching strategies combined with expectant waiting.	Try responsive communication strategies and environmental-milieu teaching strategies at home with the child.
4. Play	The importance of play in children’s communication, development and learning.	Include imitation, turn-taking and environmental-milieu teaching strategies during play at home with the child.
5. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)	Methods and tools related to AAC.	Use a picture based AAC (the “ComAlong boards”) at home with the child. If the child has a severe visual impairment, the course leaders suggest a substitute, e.g. tactile signing.
6. AAC in daily life	Aided language stimulation, choice of AAC symbols and vocabulary.	Plan for personalised AAC that will enhance communication in a playful situation at home.
7. AAC workshop	The participants create AAC tools to use at home.	Use the newly produced AAC tools at home with the child.
8. Communicative rights	Presentation and discussion of the Communication Bill of Rights as drafted by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Evaluation of the course and one’s own learning.

Table 2. Overview of survey content and inclusion of data in the study.

Survey sections	Included in Survey 1	Included in Survey 2	Data included in study
Information about the parent (age, education, etc.) and the child (disability, age, previous SLP contact, etc.)	Yes	Yes, with minor alterations	Yes (description of participants)
Questions to be answered at the start of the course and then answered/evaluated again after the course’s conclusion. (Individual expectations concerning, goals for the course and questions on how the child affects your social life)	No	Yes	Yes (qualitative analysis)
Statements regarding the content and organisation of the course to be rated on a 1-5-point scale. Comments on the ratings.	20 items	14 items	Survey 1: yes (quantitative and qualitative analyses) Survey 2: Yes (qualitative analysis)
The course’s value, rated from 1-10	Yes	Yes	Yes (quantitative analysis)
Open-ended questions addressing: 1) impact of the course on the parent’s communication 2) impact of the course on the child’s communication, 3) the most satisfactory parts of the course and 4) areas for improvement	Yes	Yes, with minor alterations	Yes (qualitative analysis)

Table 3. Mean ratings for each question as answered by parents of children with PIMD.

Statement	Results for ComAlong PIMD participants
	N	M	SD
			(min-max)
1. It was appropriate attending the course each week.	17	4.88	0.49 (3-5)
2. 8 sessions was appropriate.	17	4.82	0.39 (4-5)
3. 2 hours per session was appropriate.	17	4.82	0.39 (4-5)
4. The size of the group was appropriate.	17	4.88	0.33 (4-5)
5. The content of the course was meaningful for me.	17	4.65	0.70 (3-5)
6. The level of the course suited my previous knowledge.	17	4.53	0.94 (2-5)
7. The homework assignments were meaningful.	17	4.24	1.09 (2-5)
8. The homework assignments were just enough demanding.	17	4.29	0.85 (2-5)
9. Trying the ComAlong communication boards was valuable.	17	4.06	1.34 (1-5)
10. I got enough information about the course before it started.	17	4.59	0.80 (3-5)
11. The course fulfilled our expectations.	17	4.76	0.56 (3-5)
12. I have got knowledge about communication.	17	4.65	0.61 (3-5)
13. I have got useful hints/strategies with regard to communication.	17	3.76	1.15 (1-5)
14. I have got a comprehensive picture of AAC, different aids and their use.	17	4.47	0.80 (2-5)
15. The visit at DART — Centre for augmentative and alternative communication and assistive technology was fruitful.	12	4.33	0.65 (3-5)
16. There was enough room for me with regard to questions and discussion.	17	4.94	0.24 (4-5)
17. I needed this knowledge.	17	4.82	0.53 (3-5)
18. The course was appropriate with regard to my/our child's communication difficulties.	17	4.53	0.80 (3-5)
19. This course came at the right time for our family.	17	4.60	0.51 (4-5)
20. The course leaders were good at mediating the knowledge.	17	4.88	0.33 (4-5)
On the whole, using a 1 to 10 scale (where 10 is best) I would assign this course a rating of…	22	9.22	1.1

Figure 1. Thematic map.