Development of language skills in mentally handicapped individuals through alternative communication in naturalistic teaching

• Grant number: 05/03581-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2006
• End date: March 31, 2008
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education - Specific topics in Education
• Principal Investigator: Maria Amélia Almeida
• Grantee: Cândice da Silva e Lima
• Host Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The phonoaudiologic work with mentally deficient requires extensive knowledge about language process, which dependents on the development of other abilities such as the cognitive and social adaptative ones. With the possibility of language intervention by means of augmentative and alternative communication systems, and increased value of phonotherapy in group (that seeks a full use of social interactions), an option for institutions like APAE is aimed, in order to fulfill the lacks let by the difficulty of multidisciplinary personnel in attending the increasing demand of students with special needs. The necessity of creating alternatives regarding the form of assistance induces professionals to restructure their interventions by using naturalistic teaching to promote the development of communicative abilities. The works of Freitas, Camargo and Monteiro (2003) relate the importance of this interaction among mentally deficient young people for language construction. Thus, the present study aims to analyze and intervene in a classroom with 8 to 14 year-old students (from moderated to profound deficiency) of APAE from São José do Rio Preto-São Paulo, by using phonoaudiologic intervention in a group and alternative communication applied to naturalistic teaching as a resource for the development of communicative abilities. (AU)