Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case study
Background: Early communication supports are essential for development, learning and later employment. For children with visual impairments and blindness (VI and B), we argue that communication and its supports need to be considered outside of the normative ableist framework to best facilitate devel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-05-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Disability |
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| Online Access: | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1620 |
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| _version_ | 1849696427970658304 |
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| author | Kristen Abrahams Dellicia de Vos Armand Bam Harsha Kathard |
| author_facet | Kristen Abrahams Dellicia de Vos Armand Bam Harsha Kathard |
| author_sort | Kristen Abrahams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Early communication supports are essential for development, learning and later employment. For children with visual impairments and blindness (VI and B), we argue that communication and its supports need to be considered outside of the normative ableist framework to best facilitate development.
Objectives: This study aimed to explore and describe how a home-based programme at a community-based organisation supported the communication development of children with VI and B by exploring and describing: (1) the organisation, its context and ethos; (2) the programme methodology including, role players, skills and activities; and (3) communication opportunities.
Method: A case study design was employed, and data were collected through interviews, document reviews and observations. Notably, one member of the research team has a VI, which provided additional context and understanding of the case and enhanced the analysis process.
Results: Key themes emerging from the data included the organisation’s history and context that shaped its ethos, the focus on a parent-led methodology and the support of communication through early multimodal opportunities.
Conclusion: The findings emphasise the importance of understanding communication and communication supports beyond the normative ableist framework, which creates opportunities to appreciate and support communication holistically. More specifically, for speech-language pathologists, this study can expand their understanding of communication and raises questions about the profession’s potential contribution.
Contribution: The study contributes to the literature within the South African context that demonstrates the value of communication and further captures how multimodal community support contributes to the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5244145fbbd344dc80b4f0b9ba14c65c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2223-9170 2226-7220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Disability |
| spelling | doaj-art-5244145fbbd344dc80b4f0b9ba14c65c2025-08-20T03:19:28ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Disability2223-91702226-72202025-05-01140e1e1110.4102/ajod.v14i0.1620454Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case studyKristen Abrahams0Dellicia de Vos1Armand Bam2Harsha Kathard3Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownDivision of Student Affairs, Disability Unit, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape TownSmall Business Academy, Stellenbosch Business School, Stellenbosch University, StellenboschDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; and, Inclusive Practices Africa Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownBackground: Early communication supports are essential for development, learning and later employment. For children with visual impairments and blindness (VI and B), we argue that communication and its supports need to be considered outside of the normative ableist framework to best facilitate development. Objectives: This study aimed to explore and describe how a home-based programme at a community-based organisation supported the communication development of children with VI and B by exploring and describing: (1) the organisation, its context and ethos; (2) the programme methodology including, role players, skills and activities; and (3) communication opportunities. Method: A case study design was employed, and data were collected through interviews, document reviews and observations. Notably, one member of the research team has a VI, which provided additional context and understanding of the case and enhanced the analysis process. Results: Key themes emerging from the data included the organisation’s history and context that shaped its ethos, the focus on a parent-led methodology and the support of communication through early multimodal opportunities. Conclusion: The findings emphasise the importance of understanding communication and communication supports beyond the normative ableist framework, which creates opportunities to appreciate and support communication holistically. More specifically, for speech-language pathologists, this study can expand their understanding of communication and raises questions about the profession’s potential contribution. Contribution: The study contributes to the literature within the South African context that demonstrates the value of communication and further captures how multimodal community support contributes to the health and wellbeing of people with disabilities.https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1620visual impairmentblindnesscommunicationcommunitycommunication supportshome-based programmemultimodalspeech-language pathology. |
| spellingShingle | Kristen Abrahams Dellicia de Vos Armand Bam Harsha Kathard Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case study African Journal of Disability visual impairment blindness communication community communication supports home-based programme multimodal speech-language pathology. |
| title | Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case study |
| title_full | Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case study |
| title_short | Exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness: A case study |
| title_sort | exploring communication supports for children with visual impairment and blindness a case study |
| topic | visual impairment blindness communication community communication supports home-based programme multimodal speech-language pathology. |
| url | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/1620 |
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