Investigating the process of providing language and speech therapy in special education and rehabilitation centers: An action research

In Turkey, language and speech therapy, which is offered in special education and rehabilitation centers (SERC), has taken its place among support services that are prevalently offered in Turkey. The aim of this study was to carry out practices to improve the process of providing language and speech therapy to students with hearing loss and down syndrome in SERCs. The study was designed action research. The study was carried out at a SERC located in the Odunpazarı district of the province of Eskişehir in Turkey. The participants of the study were three students with hearing loss, two students with down syndrome, these students' families, validity committe members, researcher. As data collection instruments, the study used a participant information form, non-structured interviews, standardized tests, video recordings, field notes, researcher diaries and documents. The data were analyzed by the systematic analytical analysis approach. The results showed that the support of individual language and speech therapy provided to students with hearing loss and down syndrome had benefits for the students and their families. The process revealed how important the collaboration between the family and the language and speech therapist is. However, the results also revealed problems in practicing teamwork with other professionals at the SERC.