Background: Both individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) and staff may be more inclined to use manual signs during formal than informal activities. In addition, the sign use of individuals with ID and staff is positively related. It is unclear if activity type and the sign use of staff interact as they shape the sign use of individuals…

Background: Staff may encourage individuals with intellectual disabilities to use manual signs by modelling its use, but implementing key word signing during daily activities can be demanding. Method: Staff's use of manual signs was observed in four special schools and four day centres for adults with intellectual disabilities during communicative…

A majority of parents who have a child who is deaf are hearing and usually have had no experience with deafness. The impact on the parents can unequivocally alter their lives. The professional advice given to the parent regarding their child is often accepted as irrefutable fact, and can lead to the emotional, social, linguistic, and educational…