Implementation of speech therapy with persons with intellectual disabilities in Ukraine during May-June 2022

Abstract

Background: Intellectual disability (ID) is a condition that requires complex systematic special support, including speech therapy. Speech therapists in Ukraine face professional challenges in working with persons with ID in the conditions of the military conflict with the Russian Federation. This qualitative study offers a representation of the situation of speech therapy practice in Ukraine in May-June 2022, and the impact of military conflict on persons with ID and their families. Methods: The current study made use of an adaptation of the five-step IPSE approach. Ten Ukrainian speech therapists were interviewed. Due to subjective and objective reasons arising from the current situation in Ukraine, data collection through sampling was limited. Results: A general framework based on two central axes of experience was applied in the data analysis. The two axes are: 1) Speech therapy of persons with ID in Ukraine and 2) Impact of the military situation on speech therapy in Ukraine. The following key categories of the speech therapy experience were discussed: 1) Therapeutic Activities, 2) Clients, 3) Challenges and 4) Emotional wellbeing. The results are presented for each category and discussed in terms of both central axes of experience. Additional considerations of the speech therapy experience in Ukraine that were raised during the interviews are also briefly discussed. Conclusions: Our results indicate the problem of organizing speech therapy assistance for persons with ID from Ukraine during the analysed period. The consequences of the situation in the country on speech therapists, people with ID, and their families are discussed highlighting difficulties, challenges as well as emerging positive attitudes.