Children with developmental disabilities often have complex communication needs that require professional intervention. For children with limited or no functional speech, the first step in treatment programming is choosing an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) modality that best represents the needs of the child. The availability and diversity of AAC systems are only increasing (Loncke, 2014). Parents and practitioners are faced with a difficult decision and existing literature has yet to come to a consensus on the potential benefits or disadvantages of incorporating specific AAC strategies. The field of applied behavior analysis has empirically demonstrated the utility of AAC modalities as viable manding topographies to reduce problem behavior (Harding et al., 2009; Ringdahl et al., 2009). Despite reliable reductions in problem behavior, there is paucity in research directly comparing mand modalities and the subsequent effects on communication repertoires. Existing studies contain methodological features that make it difficult to draw firm conclusions (Chambers & Rehfeldt, 2003; Gregory, DeLeon, & Richman, 2009; Tincani, 2004). Therefore, the purpose of the current investigation is to expand on existing literature evaluating aided and unaided AAC modalities and contribute to literature on mand training as it relates to topography-based versus selection-based system outcomes. This study compares three popular mand modalities frequently utilized in interventions implemented by speech-language pathologists and behavior analysts: (1) speech only (2) picture card + speech (3) sign + speech. Conditions were compared in an alternating treatments design for two participants to determine differential modality acquisition, problem behavior reduction, communicative gesturing, and speech emergence. Methodological considerations were given to control for the influence of transfer of stimulus control procedures by adopting a graduated time delay prompt fading procedure and, to the greatest degree possible, minimize the influence of response effort variability by employing the lowest response effort possible across all conditions. Results support the “multimodal” conceptual framework and the practice of “total communication” and provide evidence against the opposing “incompatibility hypothesis.” Keywords: augmentative alternative communication (AAC), mand, verbal behavior, multimodal, total communication, incompatibility hypothesis, aided, unaided, topography-based, selection-based

Ett aktuellt exempel på en bransch i stort behov av förändring är fackförbunden, som kan liknas vid tjänsteföretag där service och utveckling blir allt viktigare för att attrahera medlemmar och skapa konkurrensfördelar. Att vara medlem i ett fackförbund har under en lång period varit en självklarhet för många förvärvsarbetare i Sverige. Men under senare tid har förutsättningarna för den fackliga verksamheten förändrats. Delvis beror det på att genomförd höjning av a-kassan, stor generationsväxling på arbetsmarknaden, nya branscher och anställningsformer förändrar intresset för anställda att ansluta sig till fackliga organisationer. Detta samtidigt som allt fler ifrågasätter nyttan av medlemskapet. För att kunna behålla styrkan som förhandlingspart och opinionsbildare behöver fackförbunden attrahera nya medlemmar. Detta är en fallstudie av fackförbundet Unionens pågående förändringsarbete med syfte att identifiera interna förutsättningar för nyskapande av mervärdet. Studien har en deduktiv ansats. Empirin har insamlats genom kvalitativa intervjuer på Unionen. Teoridelen belyser olika faktorer som är viktiga för att kunna genomföra en framgångsrik förändringsprocess såsom involvering, inlärning och nyskapande, totalkommunikation och affärsidé. Resultatet visar på vikten av hög involvering av såväl medlemmar som anställda då detta ger underlag till nya kunskaper och skapar engagemang. Slutsatsen av studien är att involvering av medlemmar och anställda är grunden för att Unionen ska kunna möta förändringar i omvärlden. Genom involvering och intern marknadsföring skapas engagemang, motivation och förståelse hos de anställda, vilket ger möjlighet till nyskapande av tjänsteerbjudandet. Uppfattningen om affärsidén måste överensstämma hos både medlemmar och anställda. Om dessa kriterier uppfylls finns goda chanser till ökat mervärde för alla parter. / A current example of a sector in basically need of change are the trade unions, which can be compared to service companies where service and development becomes more important in order to attract members and to create competitive advantages. Membership in a trade union has too many acquisition workers in Sweden during a long period been a matter of course. In latter time the conditions for the trade union activity has been changed. It partial depends on implemented increase of the unemployment fund, great alternation of generation on the labor market, new sectors and forms of employment that change the interest for employees to connect to trade unions. At the same time more people questions the aim of the membership. In order to retain the strength as party to negotiations and opinion builder the trade unions needs to attract new members. This is a case study of the trade union Unionen's ongoing change work with aim to identify internal conditions for innovation of the added value. The essay is based on a deductive research approach. The empiric has been collected through qualitative interviews at Unionen. The theory part elucidates various factors that are important in order to implement a successful process of change such as involvement, learning and innovation, total communication and business concept. The result shows on the need of high involvement of members and employees because this gives base to new knowledge and creates commitments to the mission. The conclusion of the study is that involvement of members and employees is the basis for Unionen to meet changes in the surrounding world. Involvement and internal marketing creates commitments, motivation and understanding to the employees, that gives possibility to innovation of the offer. The view of the business idea must correspond with the opinion of both members and employees. If these criteria are met there are good opportunities to achieve increased added value for all parties.

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die teoretiese doelstellings van die ondersoek behels die verkenning van sommige maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes, asook die aard van maatskaplikewerk-hulpverlening aan Dowes in Suid-Af rika. In die empiriese ondersoek word twee aspekte ondersoek, te wete: -Dowes se menings oor maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes; -Maatskaplike werkers in Dowesorg se menings oor maatskaplike behoef tes van Dowes en die praktyk van maatskaplikewerkhulpverlening aan Dowes. / The theoretical goals of the study include the investigation of some of the social needs of deaf people, as well as the nature of social work services to the Deaf in South Africa. The empirical research focuses on the following two aspects: -Deaf people's opinions about their social needs; -Social workers in Deaf care's opinions about the social needs of deaf people and the practice of social work services to the Deaf. / Social Work / D. Diac. (Social Work)

Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Text in Afrikaans / Die teoretiese doelstellings van die ondersoek behels die verkenning van sommige maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes, asook die aard van maatskaplikewerk-hulpverlening aan Dowes in Suid-Af rika. In die empiriese ondersoek word twee aspekte ondersoek, te wete: -Dowes se menings oor maatskaplike behoeftes van Dowes; -Maatskaplike werkers in Dowesorg se menings oor maatskaplike behoef tes van Dowes en die praktyk van maatskaplikewerkhulpverlening aan Dowes. / The theoretical goals of the study include the investigation of some of the social needs of deaf people, as well as the nature of social work services to the Deaf in South Africa. The empirical research focuses on the following two aspects: -Deaf people's opinions about their social needs; -Social workers in Deaf care's opinions about the social needs of deaf people and the practice of social work services to the Deaf. / Social Work / D. Diac. (Social Work)