PhD Study Focuses on Augmentative and Alternative Communication

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Speech Language Therapy lecturer, Dr Vuledzani Ndanganeni was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) from the University of Pretoria.

Ndanganeni said that gaps in educational provision for special needs children motivated her to enter this field. Her study aimed to develop an AAC training model for caregivers of young children in a low-income rural context in South Africa.

‘I developed a contextually and culturally appropriate training programme for Vhavenda caregivers of children with complex communication needs, and evaluated its effect on caregiver skills and child behaviours,’ she added.

Drawing on Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory of child development, the study found that the training improved teachers’ and children with special needs’ communication by training the more knowledgeable partner.

Ndanganeni is thrilled that, despite confronting financial and health issues during her PhD journey and suffering the loss of family members, she was able to succeed.

She said she is grateful for the support she received from her academic support group, “Siyathwalisana”. Ndanganeni is currently busy producing publications from her thesis, and is seeking funding for postdoctoral research to continue her study.

Words: Mandisa Shozi

Photograph: Supplied