Ho, Jun Hui; Kamenopoulou, Leda; Pinto, Cynthia; (2025) Facilitating Expression beyond Speech: Methods for Engaging Students with Complex Communication Needs in Research and Educational Practice. Educational and Child Psychology (In press).

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Abstract

Aims: Being able to communicate, through language or other means is an essential prerequisite in the development of friendships. This study investigated the friendships of students aged 11-19 with complex communication needs (CCN), who had limited speech and used Augmentative and/or Alternative Communication (AAC) to communicate. This paper outlines the methods used for engaging students with CCN while findings relating to the development of friendships have been published in a separate paper (Ho et al., 2024). / Method: This study used a Mosaic Approach, which combines traditional methods of interviewing and observation with participatory methods, to elicit students’ views. Participants included six students, eight of their parents and six of their teachers or teaching assistants. / Findings: It is possible to elicit the views of students with CCN using a Mosaic approach, which involved adapted versions of participatory approaches including a Pyramid Ranking, Card Sorting, School Tours, Using Photos and Objects, and Book Making, in addition to traditional methods of data collection. There needs to be considerable preparation to ensure that the approaches used are personalised for each student knowing how they prefer to communicate, what to include and making appropriate use of communication partners. / Limitations: This study aimed to understand friendships in and out of school. Information about friendships out of school was limited as the communication partners were from school and it was more difficult for them to elaborate on students’ responses when they spoke about home. Students who might not understand the concept of friendship, or could not communicate about friendships through AAC were excluded from this study. More innovative approaches could be trialled in future research to elicit their views. / Conclusion: Students with CCN are not passive responders to their environment. They have agency and can choose who they want to be friends with, what activities they want to engage in with different friends and how friends adapt to the other’s needs to create meaningful friendships.

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