ERIC Number: EJ1428569
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Jun
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-8756-8705
EISSN: EISSN-2168-8605
An Online Communication Partner Training Program: POWR+ Intervention Results for Teachers, Paraeducators, and Children
Sarah N. Douglas; Ryan Bowles; Joshua Plavnick; Sarah M. Dunkel-Jackson; Tiantian Sun; Atikah Bagawan
Rural Special Education Quarterly, v43 n2 p78-90 2024
Paraeducators frequently support children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) but often lack access to effective training opportunities. Similarly, special education teachers are responsible for supervising paraeducators but often lack effective training on AAC and paraeducator supervision. The POWR+ (Prepare the activity and AAC, Offer opportunities for communication, Wait for the child's communication, Respond to the child's communication, + model AAC) intervention provides training to both paraeducators and supervising teachers to support communication for children who use AAC. In this study, a single-case multiple probe design was used to examine the effects of the POWR+ intervention (e.g., communication opportunities, responses to child communication, and plus AAC models provided by paraeducators) for three teacher-paraeducator-child teams. As a result of the POWR+ intervention paraeducator communication opportunities and paraeducator AAC models increased for all paraeducators. Increases were also noted for communication turns for one child and paraeducator responses to child communication for two paraeducators. Results indicate that the POWR+ intervention may be a viable training option for paraeducators and teachers who support children who use AAC.
Descriptors: Paraprofessional School Personnel, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Students with Disabilities, Special Education Teachers, Job Skills, Training, Supervision, Teacher Role, Interpersonal Communication, Staff Development, Online Courses
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Michigan
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R324A180122