The use of gestures, objects and tactical symbols by children with multiple sensory disability

Abstract

The article presents the first part of the doctoral thesis PACT (Alternative Tactile Communication Program for Children with Multiple Sensory Deficiency). These data refer to Study I and sought to answer the question: can alternative communication with tactile symbols favor communicative acts of children with multiple sensory disabilities? (HALLIDAY, 1975; VAN DJIK, 1989; HAGOOD, 1997; SIGAFOOS et al., 2000; HORN; KANG, 2012). An alternative program of tactile communication – based on the association of tactile gestures, objects and symbols – was elaborated and its effects evaluated through the manifestation of communicative acts by children with multiple sensory disabilities. Three children with visual and multiple disabilities participated. The methodology was the experimental A-B, being A baseline and B intervention. Variables: Dependent Variable – communicative acts of children after the procedure; Independent Variable – program of tactile communication with gestures, objects and symbols tactile The use of this tactile program favored communicative abilities in children with multiple disabilities sensory.