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The World Health Organization (WHO, 2001) views disability as a dynamic interaction between the person and their environment.Environmental factors include the physical world and its features, the human-made physical world, other people in different relationships and roles, attitudes and values, social systems and services, and policies, rules, and laws" (WHO, 2001, p. 213).Negative environmental factors (barriers) hinder the participation of individuals with aphasia, while positive environmental factors (facilitators) support their participation.This study, aims to identify the environmental factors (barriers and facilitators) that influence the community participation of adults with aphasia, from the perspective of service industry workers in shopping centres. MethodMultiple focus groups were conducted in two different settings: 1) a suburban shopping centre which had 106 specialty shops, 4 major retailers, a range of banks, a library, and health services, and 2) through personal contacts of the researchers.

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Objectives: The current study assessed the attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs of Arab speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in the Middle East using the clinician's attitudes towards stuttering inventory (CATS). The aim was to determine whether the attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions of clinicians would potentially influence service provision, treatment efficacy, as well as the implementation of early intervention. Patients and methods: Sixty-three Arab SLPs were surveyed using the CATS inventory. The survey consists of 50 attitudinal statements, assessing a broad range of beliefs related to the etiology of stuttering, people who stutter (PWS), the effectiveness of stuttering treatment, early intervention, and about their attitudes towards parents of children who stutter. A component in the survey also looked specifically at issues of awareness and knowledge about early intervention for stuttering. Results: The study found the presence of outdated concepts in the attitudes and beliefs of some SLPs towards stuttering and PWS. Although respondents seemed confident in treating PWS, they felt they required guidance from a stuttering specialist. Overall, SLPs believed that the treatment of stuttering is a complex and difficult area. Conclusion: The results highlight the need for education and training programs in the area of stuttering in the Middle East to improve knowledge about the disorder and its treatment.