Core vocabulary is defined as "lexical items that are accepted as being central and indispensable to language use" (Bell, 2012, p. 1). Use of core vocabulary is common amongst professionals who teach augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to individuals with disabilities. Although the use of AAC is often classified as an…

Background: This study explores communication partners' perceptions of their roles and responsibilities in the design, planning and use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with individuals with severe/profound intellectual disability. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was used. Purposive sampling, data collection and…

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the branch of behavior science focused on solving problems of social significance. For over six decades, ABA researchers and practitioners have sought to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through application of evidence-based supports. Influenced by the disability…

In both research and practice, gaining assent from participants is an ethical imperative in applied behavior analysis. Recent guidance for including assent-based procedures has been provided in the literature (Breaux & Smith, 2023). However, limitations for decision-making when working with individuals who have developmental disabilities and…

Many children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities benefit from augmentative and alternative communication strategies (AAC) to increase their communicative competency. Furthermore, caregiver-implemented AAC interventions are an effective and efficient strategy to improve communication outcomes. We reviewed the caregiver-implemented…

Of individuals with an intellectual disability, 1% are recognized as having a profound intellectual disability and commonly present at a mental age of roughly three years or below. While inclusive music education models and therapeutic models have received considerable attention, there is a scarcity of literature on music education for students…

This mixed methods survey study aims to investigate school staff's perspectives on using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) with students with the most severe disabilities in Swedish school settings. The study employed a convergent mixed methods design, where both quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed in…

The use of program quality indicators (QIs) for teaching students with an intellectual disability (ID) is essential in meeting student needs and accessing curriculum. Principals who oversee and evaluate teachers of students with ID play a critical role in the implementation of QIs. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate rural school…