AAC opportunity barriers and supports in the country of Georgia: professional perspectives

Despite the potential benefits of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), individuals who use or may benefit from AAC may encounter opportunity barriers that influence communication participation. Although prior research has examined AAC opportunity barriers, a context-specific examination has not been conducted in the Country of Georgia, an upper-middle-income country with a distinct post-Soviet history and evolving disability-related policies and perceptions. This integrated mixed-methods study investigated AAC-related opportunity barriers and facilitators identified by 55 professionals serving individuals who use or may benefit from AAC in Georgia who completed a survey; 13 survey participants also participated in one of two focus groups. Quantitative survey data were analyzed descriptively. Qualitative survey responses and focus-group transcripts were analyzed using a framework-guided content analysis. Integrated findings revealed barriers related to policy (e.g., limited professional regulation, inconsistent funding, and inequitable access to training and services), practice (e.g., workforce shortages, fragmented coordination, and limited opportunities for AAC implementation support), attitudes (e.g., beliefs that AAC may hinder spoken language development), and knowledge and skill (e.g., practitioner knowledge and skills in AAC assessment and system selection). Findings also highlighted practitioner burnout and emerging facilitators including collaboration, resilience, advocacy, and optimism regarding the future of AAC services in Georgia.