Promoting nontask-related communication at vocational sites

This study examined the effectiveness of using dual communication boards (one for the student and one for the communication partner) on increasing nontask-related communication between students and coworkers at community-based vocational training sites. Three students with mental retardation and deaf-blindness or deafness participated in the study. All three students were able to communicate effectively using the communication system with 80 to 100% accuracy. Coworkers found this to be an important skill and wanted to continue this form of communication. Issues for achieving a natural conversation, symbol selection, and vocabulary selection are discussed.