What is it about?
Students who lack functional speech may use augmentative and/or alternative communication (AAC) to express themselves. However, these children are at risk of not developing friendships with peers due to both communication difficulties and restricted interactions. This study identifies and describes the friendships between students using (AAC) and fellow students in Norwegian mainstream public schools.
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Why is it important?
Although the research on friendship among children without disabilities is extensive, there is little research on the friendships of children with disabilities. Hence, we do not know if this knowledge is relevant to our understanding of friendships among children who use AAC.
Perspectives
This article directs attention to friendship among students using AAC, which is little explored in research. The study acknowledges the children’s voices and values the children’s unique interpretations of their social relationships, and combines their voices with the perspectives of fellow students, parents and staff at school.
Dr Jørn Østvik
NTNU
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: ‘So, how does one define a friendship?’: Identifying friendship among students using AAC in inclusive education settings, European Journal of Special Needs Education, April 2017, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/08856257.2017.1312799.
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