Degree Name

MS (Master of Science)

Program

Speech-Language Pathology

Date of Award

5-2023

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Bess Sirmon-Taylor, Dawn Rowe

Committee Members

Candice Bright, Morgan Kidd

Abstract

Speech-Language Pathologists provide services to youth with Down syndrome. The purpose of this study was to (a) determine if parents are aware that speech-language pathologists can provide services to prepare their children for secondary transition; (b) identify the parents’ perceptions of the services provided by speech-language pathologists; and (c) determine if in the parents’ opinion, the speech-language pathologist provided a vital role in preparing their child for transition. Using nonprobability snowball sampling, this cross-sectional mixed-method survey study included 85 parents of youth (ages 14-22) with Down syndrome across the United States. Parents rated their experiences and described their beliefs and perceived helpfulness toward their child’s SLP(s) regarding secondary transition. To identify further thoughts regarding parents’ perceptions of their engagement in the transition process, deductive, inductive, and thematic analysis of two open-ended questions uncovered three themes of responses pertaining to SLPs in secondary transition services, noted as satisfied, career, and unsatisfactory.

Document Type

Thesis - unrestricted

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.

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