Time to sign? Key word signing implementation by professionals

Individuals with intellectual disabilities can experience language and/or speech difficulties, which can affect their self-determination, social interactions, and quality of life. To enhance communication, various strategies that augment or replace natural speech can be used: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) strategies. The present project concerns one strategy in particular, key word signing (KWS). Individuals who use this strategy augment their speech by simultaneously signing the key words as they are speaking. In Flanders, the KWS system Speaking with Support of Signs (SMOG: Spreken Met Ondersteuning van Gebaren) is used in half of the Flemish services for adults with intellectual disabilities. Even though KWS can support language and speech, its use may be challenging. The present research project starts from earlier findings that direct support staff inconsistently use AAC. At present, it is not clear how varying KWS input from staff may shape the KWS usage of adults with intellectual disabilities who have experience in using KWS. This finding warrants further research. The project’s objective is two-fold. First, we aim to examine the interaction between on the one hand environmental factors (e.g., team support and task load) and support staff characteristics (e.g., KWS attitudes), and on the other hand KWS usage of support staff. Second, we study the hypothesis that adults with intellectual disabilities who have KWS experience will use more KWS when they interact with a professional who consistently uses and imitates manual signing.