Using the ImPAACT program with preschoolers with Down syndrome: a hybrid service-delivery model

Abstract

Three parents of preschool-aged children with Down syndrome using mobile augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies to communicate participated indirect, systematic communication-partner instruction. Intervention featured an adaptation of the ImPAACT Program (Improving Partner Applications of Augmentative Communication Techniques; Kent-Walsh, Binger, & Malani, 2010) that included six face-to-face and three telepractice sessions. Parents learned to use the evidence-based Read–Ask–Answer (RAA) instructional strategy (Kent-Walsh, Binger, & Hasham, 2010) during shared storybook reading with their children. A single-case, multiple-probe across participants design was used to assess parents’ accurate implementation of the instructional strategy and children’s multimodal communicative turns. All three parents increased their use of the RAA strategy and maintained strategy use over time, and all three children increased their frequency of communicative turns taken and maintained higher turn-taking rates. Results support the use of the ImPAACT Program with parents of children with complex communication needs, including the integration of hybrid learning as part of the instructional approach.

Keywords:

• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
• communication partner instruction Down syndrome intervention telepractice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

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

Notes

1 Apple iPad is a product of Apple Computers, Inc. Information: www.apple.com/iPad.

2 TouchChat HD with WordPower is a product of Saltillo, Inc. This AAC application is available at the Apple App Store.

3 Symbolstix was developed by News-2-You and is available for use with multiple aided AAC applications.

4 Disney World, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Disney Frozen, and Disney Cars are all part of the Walt Disney Company: www.thewaltdisneycompany.com

5 FaceTime is a product of Apple Computers, Inc. and is available on all Apple mobile devices.

6 Skype is a product of the Microsoft Corporation and is available on all Microsoft mobile devices.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Florida Alliance for Assistive Technology and Services (FAAST) Atlantic Regional Distribution Center (ARDC); Victoria Ridge Academy; The Down Syndrome Foundation of Florida.