Using cultural resources to build an inclusive environment for children with severe communication disabilities: a case study from Botswana

摘要

This paper describes the first cycle of an action research project addressing severe communication disabilities in context. Aspects of selected African cultures are being explored as resources in supporting inclusive environments for children with severe communication disabilities. The specific cycle documented here was completed in rural Botswana. This single case study is representative of several, similar cases where collaborative problem-solving with primary caregivers of children with severe communication disabilities (resulting from Cerebral Palsy) overcame the limitations of ‘conventional’ western communication interventions for these children. Culturally specific non-verbal communication and contextual elements of Setswana culture were identified, enabling the communicative participation of young children with severe communication disabilities in their specific social and cultural geography. Implications are indicated for clinical practice, service delivery in communication interventions and general community based rehabilitation programmes. Research implications include the need for more participative methodologies in developing contexts and the need to address communicative participation across disciplines.View full textDownload full textKeywordsaction research, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), Botswana, Cerebral Palsy, communication disabilities, high context/low context cultureRelated var addthis_config = { ui_cobrand: "Taylor & Francis Online", services_compact: "citeulike,netvibes,twitter,technorati,delicious,linkedin,facebook,stumbleupon,digg,google,more", pubid: "ra-4dff56cd6bb1830b" }; Add to shortlist Link Permalink http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14733281003651016