In this retrospective study, Bridge School's service delivery model is described and the nature and success of participants' initial educational experiences subsequent to Bridge School are reported. Bridge School provides intensive AAC services to students with severe speech and physical impairments, with the goal of facilitating student competence with AAC technologies and then returning students to their respective local inclusive schools. Sixteen former Bridge School students participated in this study. To establish a basis for participant outcomes, archival records were analyzed to determine the instructional focus, patterns of acquiring AAC technologies, and levels of educational participation. After attending Bridge School, 13 participants made the transition to inclusive educational settings in their local schools. From an educational team perspective, participants experienced success in these environments, but not all achieved independent use of AAC devices.
This study explored the semantic content of children's talk during their pretend play at home and at preschool. The spontaneous speech of ten children (C.A. 4:0 to 5:2)was tape-recorded during two hours of preschool activity and two hours following dismissal from school. Transcripts were coded for references to pretend/fantasy time, and references to specific persons and content were noted. There were no significant differences in the frequency with which children used referents to pretend/fantasy time at home and preschool. During their pretend play, the children spoke most often about themselves alone or themselves with others in both settings. Significantly more references were made to family members at home; peers and self were referenced significantly more often during pretend play at school. The actions and locations of themselves or others were frequent referents in both settings. Fantasy/cartoon characters were used by half of the children in each setting but were not used significantly more in one setting or another. Familiar daily routines were common play themes at home and at school, but never were associated with the activity of cartoon/fantasy characters. The results are discussed as they relate to the design and implementation of intervention programs for children with speech-language impairments in integrated settings with nondisabled peers.
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