Gateways to friendships among students who use AAC in mainstream primary school

Abstract

This study explores the personal characteristics that influence the establishment of friendships among seven students who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and fellow students in primary school. Students using AAC, fellow students, parents, and school staff were interviewed about how the students established friendships at school. The results revealed that students using AAC and fellow students exerted agency in friendship establishment by showing clear preferences for people and activities. Fellow students reported a larger number of personal as well as interactional qualifiers for friendship than students who used AAC. Implications of the findings are discussed.