This research study examined the relationship between middle and high school guidance counselors' attitudes toward and knowledge of speech disorders and their decisions regarding the appropriateness of various careers for speech adolescents with these disorders. The participants in this study were comprised of 61 guidance counselors who represented the following four groups: 26 individuals from middle schools, 27 individuals from high schools, 2 administrators for guidance counseling services and 6 individuals in alternative/specialty schools
The data were gathered from participants utilizing the Guidance Counselors' Advice Scale Toward Speech Disorders survey, an adaptation of the Vocational Advice Scale (Gabel, Blood, Tellis & Althouse, 2004). This new survey was piloted on a focus group consisting of seven individuals. Questions on the survey were designed to elicit attitudes toward and/or knowledge about speech disorders. The survey also elicited the participants' responses regarding their attitudes on the appropriateness of a particular career choice for adolescents with speech impairments. Both quantitative and qualitative measures were utilized for the data analysis
Although the results of the quantitative data analysis of the Guidance Counselors' Advice Scale Toward Speech Disorders survey did not reveal significant differences in the attitudes of middle and high school guidance counselors toward career choices for adolescents with speech impairments, the qualitative analysis yielded several important findings which will provide critical information that can be useful in developing collaborative treatment models for speech-language pathologists and school counselors. In addition these findings will enable counselors to effectively counsel preadolescents and adolescents with speech impairments, especially those who stutter, in their career choice decisions
