Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2000-9
Communication-Based Services for Persons with Severe Disabilities: A Survey of Speech-Language Pathologists Working in North Carolina Residential Centers
Speech-language pathologists were surveyed with an instrument created from The National Joint Committee for the Communicative Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities' quality indicators self-assessment tool. Participants reported to value highly and, to a lesser degree, practice indicators of quality communication-based service delivery for persons with severe disabilities. Infrequent negative ratings for individual survey items and significant differences between opinion and practice ratings overall were unexpected and somewhat troubling. These findings would appear to suggest that in some areas of clinical practice even the most qualified speech-language pathologists fail to value and provide best practice services. Suggestions for promoting best practice are provided.
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