Is communication really the point? Some thoughts on interventions and membership

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Science
• Disability Studies
• Communication Sciences

Background:

• Communication interventions are professional efforts to mitigate the effects of disability.
• Recent developments show a shift in intervention focus, perspectives, and strategies.
• The traditional focus on improving communication may not be the ultimate goal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine communication interventions as a means to achieve societal membership for individuals with disabilities.
• To explore the concept of membership and how it is constructed through social narratives.
• To advocate for a shift in intervention goals towards fostering societal inclusion.

Main Methods:

• Review of communication intervention literature and recent developments.
• Conceptual analysis of 'membership in society' within the context of disability.
• Exploration of narrative construction to validate communication acts of individuals with disabilities.

Main Results:

• The primary goal of communication interventions should be societal membership, not solely enhanced communication.
• Individuals construct social narratives that integrate and value the communication of people with disabilities.
• Current efforts may overemphasize communication mechanics over social participation.

Conclusions:

• Interventions should prioritize facilitating societal membership for individuals with disabilities.
• Focusing on 'membership' reframes the purpose of communication support.
• Achieving social belonging is a more meaningful outcome than isolated communication improvements.