Communication Disorders Quarterly

If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed some of its choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solutions, I should point to India. M. F. Muller (1883, p. 6) This study aims to investigate current trends in South India with regard to communication interventions for children with special needs and professionals ’ knowledge on these specific intervention strategies. This is a preliminary study in a series of other investigative studies across the country. To help readers understand the true essence of this investi-gative study, a brief outline of the culture and education system in India is provided below. India represents a society rich in its cultural heritage, with underlying influences of the British rule. Cultural diversity depends on geographical region, language, reli-gion, caste, education, profession, and socioeconomic sta-tus. Linguistic diversity is an essential part of India. Of the 22 languages and more than 200 dialects spoken by the people, there are 2 official languages (English and Hindi) at the federal level and 15 at the state levels (Annamalai, 2004). Despite this heterogeneity of the country, it func-tions as one unified nation with its ethos in “unity in diversity.” India has grown to become a world leader in computer technology and holds pride in being the second most computer-literate population in the world (Babington, 2000