A comparative study of the attitudes of teachers at special and educationally inclusive schools towards learners with little or no functional speech using communication devices

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine and compare educationally inclusive and special school teachers' attitudes towards learners with little or no functional speech (LNFS), using two Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices namely a digital speaker (Alpha Talker TM) and a communication board. At each school, teachers were divided into two random groups. Group I teachers viewed the same video of the communication board a week later. Group 2 teachers watched a video of a learner communicating using first the low technology communication device (communication board) and then the high technology communication device (Alpha Talker TM) a week later. After each viewing, teachers' attitudes were measured using the Teacher Attitude Scale (TAS). The results revealed that teachers were generally positive towards both high and low technology devices. A comparison of educationally inclusive and special education teachers revealed no significant difference between these teachers' attitudes towards the devices.


(South African Journal of Education: 2003 22(3): 213-219)