Article

People with communication impairments may face barriers to civic
participation, with resulting marginalisation of individuals who wish to be
actively involved. The investigation aimed to explore the experience of civically
engaged adults with acquired neurological communication difficulties. METHOD: Six
people with acquired neurological communication difficulties were interviewed.
Discussion included the definition of active citizenship, their civic
involvement, motivations, related barriers and facilitators. Qualitative analysis
was undertaken, with data categorised, coded and examined for recurring themes.
RESULTS: All participants were active in disability-related organisations and
four undertook wider civic roles. Motivations included activity being out with
the home and wanting to effect change for themselves and the populations they
represented. Disability group meetings were more positive experiences than
broader community activities, which were associated with fatigue and frustration,
commonly resulting from communication difficulties and unmet support needs. All
participants identified a need for professional and public educational about
disability and communication and made recommendations on content, methods and
priority groups. CONCLUSIONS: For these participants civic engagement had
positive and negative dimensions. Speech and language therapists should promote
reduction of the barriers that impede the active citizenship rights of people
with communication support needs. Civic participation may be a relevant measure
of outcome in communication impaired populations.

Langue : ANGLAIS