Hearing stakeholder voices in the design of a non-electronic sepedi graphic symbol-based AAC resource

The design of non-English Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) resources is an urgent necessity. Human centered design (HCD) may be a useful framework for involving stakeholders in establishing design requirements for a non-electronic Sepedi graphic symbol-based AAC resource. This framework foregrounds the voice of stakeholders in the design process to counter the hegemony of Western Anglo-centric methodologies and approaches. This study aimed to obtain initial input on the need for and design requirements of a non-electronic Sepedi GS-based AAC resource from the stakeholders. A qualitative descriptive design was used. The perspectives of 21 stakeholders including special school teachers, speech-language therapists, parents of participants in need of AAC, Sepedi linguists and adults using AAC were obtained via focus groups and interviews. Recordings were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants highlighted a need for a culturally and linguistically appropriate AAC resource. They furthermore indicated that the resource should promote communication access, social inclusion and the development of various communication and language skills. The school and the home environment were identified as primary contexts of use. Specific suggestions regarding the vocabulary, the graphic symbols, the lay-out and organization of the vocabulary as well as the physical properties of the resource were obtained. The participants highlighted a need for a team to design and develop the resource. The study showed that diverse stakeholders could contribute meaningfully to the design process of an AAC resource for young individuals from a Sepedi language background.非英语型辅助与替代沟通（Augmentative and Alternative Communication, AAC）资源的设计已是迫切之需。以人类为中心的设计（Human Centered Design, HCD）或许是一种实用框架，可用于吸引利益相关方共同为一款非电子类北索托语（Sepedi）图形符号（Graphic Symbols, GS）型AAC资源制定设计需求。该框架在设计过程中凸显利益相关方的话语权，以对抗西方盎格鲁中心主义方法论与研究路径的霸权。本研究旨在从利益相关方处获取关于非电子类北索托语GS型AAC资源的需求与设计需求的初步反馈。本研究采用质性描述性研究设计，通过焦点小组与访谈的方式，收集了21位利益相关方的观点，其中包括特殊学校教师、言语语言治疗师、AAC使用者的家属、北索托语（Sepedi）语言学家以及成年AAC使用者。研究人员对录音进行转写，并采用质性内容分析法开展分析。参与者强调，亟需一款符合文化与语言适配性的AAC资源。此外，参与者指出，该资源应助力沟通可达性提升、社会包容度增强以及各类沟通与语言技能的培养。学校与家庭环境被确定为该资源的主要使用场景，研究同时收集了关于词汇表、图形符号、词汇表排版与组织方式，以及该资源物理属性的具体建议。参与者强调，亟需组建团队开展该资源的设计与开发工作。本研究表明，多元利益相关方可为北索托语（Sepedi）背景青少年的AAC资源设计过程提供富有价值的贡献。