Abstract

GOMEZ, Andrea Jimena Viera  and  REALI ARCOS, Florencia. Classroom communication: case studies of teacher’s evaluations of implementation of augmentative and alternative communication systems in special education in Uruguay. Psicol. Conoc. Soc. [online]. 2021, vol.11, n.1, pp.97-115.  Epub June 01, 2021. ISSN 1688-7026.  https://doi.org/10.26864/pcs.v11.n1.7.

This paper shows the results of a qualitative research on the evaluations of teachers on the implementation of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems (SAAC) with children with cerebral palsy in the Public Special Education of Uruguay. The access to communication constitutes a fundamental right of any child. In Uruguay, intervention in language re-education depends on the practice of speech therapists, however, are part of the educational practices of teachers working with this population. This study is framed within a sociocultural perspective of language and communication. This article describes the uses and functions of AACS from the teachers' perspective. In this sense, as with other language technologies, it is assumed that the cognitive functions of AACS depend on the contexts in which they are used and the meaning that people attribute to them. Based on the results of semi-structured interviews, the current work was developed in the only public center for Special Education that serves this population in Uruguay. The interviews revealed that teachers valued in a positive way the various uses of AACS. Along these lines, they pointed out the advantages associated with emotional and motivational aspects in children's use as it reduces social isolation and anxiety. Despite the obvious advantages identified by the teachers, several disadvantages were also associated with the limitations of children’s accessibility of the devices, given the variability and severity of the motor disability experienced by this population.

Keywords : Teachers; augmentative and alternative communication systems; special education.

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