JCPSLP Vol 14 No 2 2012

Complex communication needs

Clinical insights Making Key Word Sign and Gesture happen in Singapore: Findings from a pilot study Eva Wei-Lyn Loh

Little is known about the use of Key Word Sign and Gesture (KWS&G) as an approach for persons with complex communication needs in Singapore. The current paper shares the findings from a pilot study that implemented KWS&G (Australia) within a special education school for children with intellectual disabilities, and trained parents and teachers in using KWS&G. The paper also reports the preliminary results from the pre- and post-pilot study questionnaire. After receiving training, parents and teachers found KWS&G (Australia) to be useful in facilitating communication between the child/ student and themselves. A supportive signing environment was also important in order for KWS&G to be embraced by staff. The team is looking into implementing KWS&G (Australia) as an interim common signing approach across the organisation, while looking forward to the possibility of developing KWS&G (Singapore) in the near future. augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), has benefits on facilitating understanding and expression for individuals with complex communication needs. It has been well documented that KWS&G has positive effects on speech development (Millar, Light, & Schlosser, 2000, cited in Cress & Marvin, 2003), vocabulary development, and social interaction (Kahn, 1981, cited in Cress & Marvin, 2003), as well as perceived speech intelligibility (Powell & Clibbens, 1994). The KWS&G approach is not new and has been developed for individuals with multiple and severe disabilities, formally beginning in the United Kingdom in the 1970s with the introduction of Makaton (The Makaton Charity, 2012). Despite the fact that KWS&G (including Makaton) is used in over 40 countries worldwide to support the communication of hearing children/adults who are unable to speak or whose speech is difficult to understand, Background information Key Word Sign and Gesture Key Word Sign and Gesture (KWS&G), a form of

Keywords AAC INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVICE DELIVERY SIGNING

Eva Wei-Lyn Loh

little is known about the use of KWS&G in Singapore (Loh & Singh, 2011), and as a result, KWS&G has not been adapted to cater specifically to the needs and culture of our community. Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS, www.minds.org.sg) is one of the largest organisations that provides special education and training- employment services to children and adults with moderate- to-severe intellectual disability in Singapore. MINDS runs four schools, three employment development centres, three training development centres, and one residential home facility. Typically within MINDS, there is one full-time speech therapist employed per school. Due to funding constraints, speech therapy positions initially only existed in MINDS

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JCPSLP Volume 14, Number 2 2012

www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au