Education Commons^™

Atypical Sensory Processing And Semantic Language In Autistic Children, Charlene L. Cooper

Theses and Dissertations

Autistic children demonstrate a constellation of traits with varying degrees of severity in areas including language differences, restrictive and repetitive behaviors, and sensory processing differences. However, the relationship between sensory processing and these other behaviors are not well understood especially their neurobiological underpinnings. Therefore, this research examined behavioral measures of semantic language, sensory traits, and associated brain networks in 20 autistic children (ages 6-11) and 22 typically developing (TD) age matched peers. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed a strong correlation between sensory traits and general composite and semantic language in both groups of participants. Sensory seeking traits were most significantly correlated …

Using Bst To Increase Interview Skills Among Emerging Adults With Autism Via Telehealth, Johnna L. Dowdy

Theses and Dissertations

he purpose of the current study was to evaluate the use of behavior skills training via telehealth to teach job interview skills to emerging adults with ASD. Additionally, the study examined if following intervention, skills were able to generalize to new interviewers. 2 undergraduate and 1 graduate student with ASD participated in the study, and received intervention for 3 behaviors: (1) appropriately answering questions, (2) asking appropriate questions, and (3) engaging in appropriate body language. The current study used a multiple baseline design across behaviors. Results from the study indicated BST via telehealth was effective in teaching job interviews skills. …

Public Relations Of Inclusion: A Critical Reframing Of Autism Inclusion With Professors Of Teacher Candidates, Jessica Block Nerren

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

There is a problem when inclusion is broken in our communities and in our schools while preliminary teachers call out for more preparation for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) inclusion in their credential programs (Bryant, 2018; Busby et al., 2012; Finch et al., 2013; Loiacono & Valenti, 2010; Morgan, 2015; Robertson et al., 2003; Walters, 2012). The purpose of this study is to explore the framing of ASD inclusion by professors of multiple and single subject preliminary teacher candidates. At this stage in the research, the framing of inclusion is defined as a pre-conscious sensemaking of inclusion for individuals with ASD …

Parental Understanding Of Special Education Legislation And Case Law, Advocacy, And Perceptions Of The Iep Process For Children With Autism, Rachel Treshan

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the legal statutes in place that mandate parental participation in the individualized education program (IEP) process, the decision-making process is mainly dominated by educators. In addition, information on parental perceptions of IEP meetings is limited, especially in regard to parents of children with autism. Parental understanding of special education legislation and case law, advocacy, and perceptions of the IEP process for children with autism was explored in this study. Using a generic qualitative approach, 11 parents of children ages 3 to 13 years old with autism were interviewed via Zoom to develop an understanding of their experiences. Data were …

The Effects Of A Treatment Package Of Video Self-Modeling And Phrase Drill Intervention On Improving The Reading Fluency In Students With Asd, Maha Alghamdi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the incidence rate of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Saudi Arabia appears to increase, the need for evidence-based reading interventions that focus on the reading development of students with ASD increases. Reading fluency has been identified as a critical component of reading development and has been consistently linked with reading proficiency. Interventions to promote reading fluency in schools in Saudi Arabia have focused on promoting the literacy attainment of typically developed students, disregarding students with disabilities. In this study, a treatment package of video-self modeling and phrase drill has been used to improve the students reading fluency …

Effects Of Parent-Implemented Interventions On Outcomes For Children With Autism: A Meta-Analysis, Wai Man Cheng

Theses and Dissertations

Parent-implemented interventions (PIIs) can be useful in promoting parents’ knowledge of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and in transferring necessary skills to children with ASD. Individuals with ASD can directly and indirectly benefit from PIIs in terms of academics, ASD symptom severity, behavior improvement, cognition, communication, and social skills. Many studies have explored the efficacy of PIIs; however, they have tended to report mixed effects. Previous meta-analyses and systematic reviews have been characterized by limited search terms and literature search procedures, emphases on published manuscripts, dependency on parent reports, dated findings, and comparisons across of different types of control groups. This …

Supporting Students On The Autism Spectrum And Gender Identity Spectrum, Kelly Steinke

Culminating Projects in Special Education

Three issues guided this review. First, factors that increase the incidence of gender dysphoria among DHRC is examined. Second, the change in the generational view of gender identity will be reviewed and contrasted. Finally, school and community-based programs will be reviewed. Issues related to gender dysphoria among the population diagnosed with ASD is a specific focus. By identifying and defining Gender Identity, educators will be more equipped to support all students and create a gender inclusive classroom.

Autism Spectrum Disorder And Remote Learning: Parents’ Perspectives On Their Child’S Learning At Home, Stephanie Hernandez

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The global COVID-19 pandemic led to the universal restricted access of school grounds and caused students to transition to a remote learning environment. Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are eligible for special educational services and are normally provided additional support during school. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, delivery of multiple support resources became limited, and parents needed to consider how their child’s education and support would be incorporated in their new educational environment.

During the pandemic, parents had the opportunity to provide various instructional assistance and support at home. Scaffolding, a type of guidance used when a child is …

Stakeholders' Perceptions Of Available Services In A Rural Community To Effectively Educate Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Candice Walker

Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased 150% over the last 20 years, affecting all communities, with future projections of further rise. This is a particular concern for the public education system, where laws mandate that schools provide meaningful education to all students. Resources must be in place to provide the level of support children with ASD require for a successful educational experience. These resources are often expensive and require specialized training to secure. Rural schools face unique barriers meeting the standards set forth through federal law. To determine the most productive use of available resources as well as …

Autistic Traits, Sensory Processing, And Intolerance Of Uncertainty: Neurobiological And Behavioral Correlates, Maggie Buckhannon

Theses and Dissertations

Sensory processing challenges are common and often difficult for children on the autism spectrum and can affect some neurotypical children. Furthermore, sensory processing atypicalities are associated with autistic traits and other co-occurring behaviors associated with autism, such as intolerance of uncertainty. As such, traits common to autism may vary continuously across diagnostic boundaries (i.e., Broad Autism Phenotype). Working to uncover behavioral and neurophysiologic correlates of sensory differences could positively impact clinical support of children with and without a diagnosis of autism. Therefore, this study examined relationships between sensory processing, intolerance of uncertainty (a possible measure of prediction), autistic traits, and …

Behavioral And Neural Correlates Of Sensory Processing And Anxiety In Autistic Children, Kelsey Lee Ustach Tindall

Theses and Dissertations

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are known to experience higher levels of sensory processing differences as well as anxiety, compared to the neurotypical population (NT). Both theory and evidence suggest that there is an interrelationship between sensory processing, anxiety and fear, and prediction abilities in autism. However, much more remains to be discovered about their relationship and especially underlying neural mechanisms. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine the behavioral relationship between sensory processing, fear and anxiety, prediction, and related brain activity in autistic children. To this end, 30 autistic children (ages 6-11 years) and …

The Effects Of Asian Immigrant Parent Implemented Training On Mand Acquisition Of Children With Autism, Xiaohan Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Asian population is proportionally the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States and Asian parents often hold different opinions on family functioning and childrearing. However, there has been no research conducted to examine how to best train parents from Asian immigrant backgrounds to teach manding to their children with autism at home. A behavioral skills training (BST) package was utilized to teach three Asian parents to train their children with autism aged between 6-12 to mand for preferred items. A multiple-baseline-across-participants design was used to evaluate the effects of parent training on parent participants’ implementation of mand training task analysis …

Improved Word Reading Experiences Of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (Asd) Who Participated In Singing Activities: A Synthesis Of Qualitative Research, Robin Rosezel Porter

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Research in special education has shown an increase in reading difficulties of

children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within the last ten years. Reading

difficulties include challenges in word reading experiences, such as decoding,

syllabication, and phonological awareness.

Several reading interventions help children with ASD improve reading

difficulties. Such reading interventions include but are not limited to priming with

visual supports (VS) and pre-teaching vocabulary. However, during the

performance of reading interventions for children with Autism, behavioral support

is an issue. Behavioral support has included significant prompting and

redirecting.

Furthermore, children with ASD have not shown full engagement

during the …

Behavioral Interventions For Aggressive Behaviors In Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Amy A. Urman

Culminating Projects in Special Education

Chapter 1: Introduction

Behavioral interventions are positive and proactive strategies to help students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) gain behavior management skills. Behavior affects how students succeed in the classroom both academically and behaviorally. This review examines the positive effects of behavioral interventions for aggressive behaviors in students with ASD. Research states that physical aggression is more prevalent in individuals with ASD compared to any other developmental disabilities or typically developing peers.

Increasing On-Task Behavior Using The I-Connect Application At Home For An Individual With Autism, John Joseph Augustine

MSU Graduate Theses

This study assessed the effects of the research-based strategy, I-Connect self-monitoring application (Wills & Mason, 2014), with an individual diagnosed with autism. I-Connect is an electronic self-monitoring application that was utilized with an electronic device (iPad) to monitor on- and off-task behavior in the home environment. Data were collected using direct observation (e.g., momentary time sampling) for on- and off-task behavior and permanent product for academic accuracy. A reinforcement inventory was also utilized to determine highly preferred reinforcers of the participant. A single-subject withdrawal design (Kazdin, 2011) was used to assess the effects of the I-Connect application on academic on- …

Virtually Left Behind: The Struggles Of Adapted Physical Education Through Online Learning For Students With Special Needs, Madison Neff

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The focus issue addressed in this Capstone Project is on improving the challenges faced by students with special needs through online modalities of adapted physical education (APE). This is an important issue for students with special needs because they are regressing because of online learning. Students with special needs need a routine and a hands-on learning environment to thrive. It is argued that if teachers, parents, and students meet certain criteria, these challenges can be improved with collaboration. The primary stakeholders' perspectives included one APE teacher and three parents, due to their relevant experience and observations of online APE and …

How Do General Education Teachers Feel Prepared To Teach Individuals With Autism In The Classroom, Colin Valley

Leadership Education Capstones

This paper will deal with ways general education teachers can better serve individuals with autism in their classroom. This can be accomplished in many ways, and these ways will be discussed throughout. Research for this topic has been done in many different ways but overall, the root of how general education teachers feel about having individuals with autism in their classroom has not (Jones, A. P., & Frederickson, N. 2010). Throughout his study, the researcher will find ways to make general education teachers k-12 feel more prepared to teach individuals with autism in the general education classroom.

Momentum For Learning: Defining A Pedagogy Of Movement For Improved Learning And Cognition, Gretchen L. Stewart

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study reports the findings of a mixed-methods investigation into learning and cognition that has been theoretically and methodologically positioned as embodied. Embodied learning places pedagogical value on the biophysiologically dependent nature of learning on the development of the central nervous system. Rooted in empirical evidence of structural and functional brain change through movement, the purpose of this study was to investigate the primary teaching and learning features of a neurodevelopmental approach to schooling. The research question was, how do interdisciplinary experts operationalize movement as fundamental pedagogy in a brain relevant school model? Methods included qualitative interviews, a consensus building …

Saudi Special Education Teachers’ Perspectives On The Use Of Ipads To Enhance Communication Skills For Students With Autism, Adil Alghamdi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explored teachers’ perceptions of rough-and- tumble (R&T) play in early childhood education in Saudi Arabia. The literature on rough-and-tumble play in Saudi Arabia is limited in scope, and more research is needed to explore teachers’ perceptions on this type of play for early learners. The pertinent literature reveals that R&T play, which includes running, jumping, fighting, wrestling, chasing, pulling, pushing, and climbing, among other rough playful activities, can positively impact learning and development across psychosocial, emotional, and cognitive domains. Teachers’ understanding of R & T play is key, and the attitudes of Saudi early childhood teachers who are …

Factors Influencing The Retention Of Teachers In Private Schools Serving Students With Autism, Leah M. Farinola

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this sequential mixed-methods study was to explore the factors associated with teacher retention in New Jersey private schools serving children with autism. This study explored the most influential variables in teacher retention within school administrators' scope of control. The research design consisted of two phases, with the first phase guiding the second. The first phase was quantitative and included collecting and analyzing data through teacher responses from an online survey. Survey data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. This analysis led to the creation and review of the interview questions utilized in the second phase. The second …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction With Autistic Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heather Ann Marzenski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Families and educators have voiced concerns about the literacy skills of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the situation. Pandemic era studies have demonstrated the ramifications that students with ASD have faced, including regression of literacy skills, lower grades, lack of support services, and subpar instruction. Teachers' perceptions remained unexamined in the pandemic era studies. The purpose of this basic qualitative dissertation was to examine teachers’ perceptions about the materials and strategies used to deliver literacy instruction during the pandemic for students with ASD. The conceptual frameworks that underpinned this study were self-determination theory …

Staff Development For Direct Support Professionals: Perspectives On The Usefulness Of A Literacy-Based Social Skill Strategy, Pattiann Laveglia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover Direct Support Professionals’ (DSPs) perceptions of a staff development session for creating a literacy-based social skills strategy known as social stories or story-based instruction. The participants in this study were six DSPs employed by a non-profit agency in the Mid-Hudson Region of New York State which provides community-based residential services to children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Three data collection methods were used in this study: a questionnaire, written reflections, and two in-depth interviews. This study was guided by four research questions exploring the perceived self-efficacy of …

Exploring The Identification Of American Indian Children With Autism Spectrum Disoder Through The Story Of A Parent, Christopher Cooper

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

American Indian or Alaska Native children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at later ages than Non-Hispanic White children. Other than being included in prevalence studies, in the last thirty years, there has been less than a handful of studies that have looked specifically at Autism Spectrum Disorder within the AI/AN community. No studies looked at the assessment experience of parents. This exploratory study used Indigenous Storytelling Methodology to hear an AI/AN parent’s initial developmental concerns about their child and their experience with the Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis process. The system of assessment created a frustrating experience, and the parent …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Role Of Social Robots As Teaching Assistants In The Online Teaching Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Richard Hutley

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are the fastest-growing group of children with special education needs. ASD affects individuals from all walks of life, regardless of race, ethnicity, educational levels of family members, or socio-economic backgrounds. People on the autism spectrum have difficulty communicating and establishing socio-emotional connections with other human beings, making teaching those with ASD challenging for their human teachers.Most research in the field of autism has focused on the clinical aspects of the condition and on the individuals who are on the spectrum. However, research into the perception of the teachers charged with educating ASD students is …

“It Sucks, But I’M Grateful”: Understanding The Experience Of Autistic Students Living In The Residence Halls, Mary F. Elliott

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As populations of Autistic students at institutions of higher education increases, it is becoming more important for institutions to evaluate their programs with these students in mind. While the Autistic population has grown, policies and services on campuses have not become more inclusive or supportive of this population as a response. This evaluation examines the Residential Learning Model, the guide through which the residential life program at one institution of higher education is delivered to the students living in the residence halls. Through the lens of the Autistic students and the student staff who live and work in the residence …

Perceived Level Of Neurodiversity-Based Methodologies In Support Programs For Post-Secondary Autistic Students, Gwendolyn Barnhart

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Autistic students often face stigmatization surrounding their autism diagnosis, especially in academia, which can cause depression, lower self-esteem, or suicidal ideation and lead to lower academic success. The problem of insufficient research-based effective practices to guide support services for autistic students in their post-secondary education was addressed in this study. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the degree to which neurodiversity-based methodologies are utilized in special education post-secondary support services. The diffusion of innovation framework was used to explore perceptions of 19 staff members who worked in academic support services. The research questions were focused on …

A Bilingual Advantage For Children With Autism: Effect Of A Bilingual Education On Set Shifting In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Chandler Flannery O'Reardon

Senior Projects Spring 2021

The proposed study will examine the effect of an early bilingual school environment on the set shifting abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). More specifically, it will evaluate how an English-French bilingual education program affects the set shifting abilities of children with ASD compared to a monolingual English education program. Set shifting will be measured by the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) task both before and after the respective education programs. I hypothesize that there will be a main effect of both time point and education program on set shifting abilities such that (a) set shifting abilities will …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Literacy Instruction With Autistic Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Heather Ann Marzenski

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractFamilies and educators have voiced concerns about the literacy skills of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the situation. Pandemic era studies have demonstrated the ramifications that students with ASD have faced, including regression of literacy skills, lower grades, lack of support services, and subpar instruction. Teachers' perceptions remained unexamined in the pandemic era studies. The purpose of this basic qualitative dissertation was to examine teachers’ perceptions about the materials and strategies used to deliver literacy instruction during the pandemic for students with ASD. The conceptual frameworks that underpinned this study were self-determination theory …

Adults With Asd Perceptions Of Inclusion Education, Susan Mary Weiss

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAdults with ASD Perceptions of Inclusion Education by Susan M. Weiss

MA, Adelphi University, 1989BS, Hofstra University, 1987

Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Education Special Education

Walden UniversityFebruary 2021

AbstractThe perspectives and experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not included in the body of educational research on inclusion education. Because students with ASD are academically capable, they are placed in inclusive education environments. The perspectives of adults with ASD about their inclusion experiences could offer valuable information to educational practitioners and parents of students with ASD. Using …

No Future For Academic Crips: An Autoethnographic Crippling Of Academic Futurity, A. Adams

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

No Future for Academic Crips attempts to situate crip theory, critical disability studies, and communication theory squarely in the context of academia, problematizing the constraints placed on autistic identity by the demands of a graduate education. Utilizing autoethnographic vignettes along with theoretical writings regarding the creation and consolidation of crip identity, this thesis theorizes what a “neuroqueer future” looks like for academics. Six vignettes are presented to demonstrate strategies for survival employed in academic spaces, followed by analysis contextualizing and criticizing those strategies. Finally, implications for neuroqueer futurity and identity are discussed.