ADAPTATION AND VALIDATION OF THE FAMILY IMPACT OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SCALE FOR AUGMENTATIVE AND ALTERNATIVE COMMUNICATION, THE SHORT FORM FIATS-AAC 38

Abstract

Communication assessment of children with complex communication needs requires localized measuring tools that allow observation in a family environment. Families observe communication in children during everyday activities, providing valuable data about communicative progress. Until recently, no measurement tool was used in Ukraine to assess the impact of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) on a child from the family perspective. The paper presents a translation to the Ukrainian language and adaptation of the Short Form of the Family Impact of Assistive Technology Scale for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (FIATS-AAC 38). An important feature of the FIATS-AAC 38 is that measurements are compared not with normative scores but showing the development of child’s communication in dynamics. Validation of the translation of the tools was done on a sample of 63 parents of children 6-18 years old with complex communication needs. Psychometric indexes а аshowed that the translated tool works as a consistent and internally logical system and proved a successful adaptation of the Ukrainian version of the FIATS-AAC 38. Internal consistency, structure validity, test-retest reliability, and discriminant power of the translated questionnaire have been defined as acceptable. This provides a powerful assessment tool for the Ukrainian community of AAC users, parents, and professionals. Analysis of parent responses that capture functional and contextual outcomes of assisted communication may also provide important research information about the daily lives and needs of children with complex communication needs and their families for further studies. This research may also create a basis to explore social integration of children with speech, language, and communication disorders.