CHFA | Psychology Department Showcase: Projects In-Progress
Speech Stigma: Exploring Predictors of Attitudes Toward Nonspeaking Autistic Individuals
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Communication Disorders and Psychology
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Michael Bordieri
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
Roughly 30% of autistic individuals are nonspeaking, meaning they do not (or very minimally) communicate with speech. Many nonspeaking individuals have the ability to communicate with others by using augmentative and alternative communication, such as speech-generating devices or communication boards. The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes of speaking individuals towards nonspeaking autistic people through a survey measuring attitudes and stigma towards nonspeaking people, autistic people, and disabled people, respectively. Predictors of attitudes, such as contact, knowledge, gender, and psychological inflexibility will be examined. It is hypothesized that participants who have more contact with and knowledge of nonspeaking, autistic, or disabled people will have less stigmatizing attitudes, and that women will have less stigmatizing attitudes than men. It is also hypothesized that psychological inflexibility with regard to stigmatizing thoughts will positively predict stigmatizing attitudes. Relationships between study variables will be explored using correlations and hierarchical regression models to control for potentially related variables. Implications for future research and stigma prevention approaches will be discussed.
Fall Scholars Week 2024 Event
Psychology: Projects In-Progress
Spring Scholars Week 2025
Psychology: Projects In-Progress
Speech Stigma: Exploring Predictors of Attitudes Toward Nonspeaking Autistic Individuals
Roughly 30% of autistic individuals are nonspeaking, meaning they do not (or very minimally) communicate with speech. Many nonspeaking individuals have the ability to communicate with others by using augmentative and alternative communication, such as speech-generating devices or communication boards. The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes of speaking individuals towards nonspeaking autistic people through a survey measuring attitudes and stigma towards nonspeaking people, autistic people, and disabled people, respectively. Predictors of attitudes, such as contact, knowledge, gender, and psychological inflexibility will be examined. It is hypothesized that participants who have more contact with and knowledge of nonspeaking, autistic, or disabled people will have less stigmatizing attitudes, and that women will have less stigmatizing attitudes than men. It is also hypothesized that psychological inflexibility with regard to stigmatizing thoughts will positively predict stigmatizing attitudes. Relationships between study variables will be explored using correlations and hierarchical regression models to control for potentially related variables. Implications for future research and stigma prevention approaches will be discussed.