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Active citizenship and acquired neurological communication difficulty.
Catherine Mackenzie1, Amanda Bennett, Melissa Cairney
1Department of Educational and Professional Studies, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom. c.mackenzie@strath.ac.uk
Civically engaged adults with acquired neurological communication difficulties experience both positive and negative aspects of participation. Reducing barriers is crucial for their active citizenship and inclusion.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Social Sciences
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Communication impairments can hinder civic participation and lead to marginalization.
- Understanding the lived experiences of civically engaged individuals with acquired neurological communication difficulties is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the experiences of adults with acquired neurological communication difficulties who are civically engaged.
- To identify motivations, barriers, and facilitators to their civic involvement.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews were conducted with six adults with acquired neurological communication difficulties.
- Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns.
Main Results:
- Participants were active in disability organizations, with some in wider civic roles.
- Motivations included a desire for change and engagement outside the home.
- While disability group meetings were positive, broader community activities presented challenges like fatigue and frustration due to communication barriers and unmet support needs.
- Participants highlighted the need for public and professional education on disability and communication.
Conclusions:
- Civic engagement presents both positive and negative dimensions for individuals with communication impairments.
- Speech and language therapists should advocate for reducing barriers to active citizenship for people with communication support needs.
- Civic participation can serve as a meaningful outcome measure in populations with communication impairments.
