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2019

Special Education and Teaching

Autism

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Articles 1 - 27 of 27

Full-Text Articles in Education

The Moon Is Especially Full: Notes On Poetry, Teaching, Tests, And [Autistic] Intelligence, Chris Martin Dec 2019

The Moon Is Especially Full: Notes On Poetry, Teaching, Tests, And [Autistic] Intelligence, Chris Martin

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This essay explores the ways in which poetry can help autistic students utilize creative expression and develop tools for self-advocacy.

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Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Home-School Collaboration: Enhancing Learning For Children With Autism, Chana S. Josilowski Dec 2019

Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Home-School Collaboration: Enhancing Learning For Children With Autism, Chana S. Josilowski

The Qualitative Report

This study aimed to explore the relationship between teachers and students’ families and address the deficiencies in the body of research regarding the performance gap between children with autism and their age-equivalent peers. The research question was: How do teachers of children with autism perceive the home-school collaboration and its impact on learning? Ten state-certified special educators with at least 3 years’ experience teaching children with autism, and experience collaborating with their students’ families participated in face-to-face interviews, answering 8 open-ended questions in this generic qualitative study. Inductive thematic analysis yielded 6 themes: (a) collaboration improves learning, (b) communication is …

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Including Autism: Confronting Inequitable Practices In A Toddler Classroom, Emmanuelle N. Fincham, Amanda R. Fellner Oct 2019

Including Autism: Confronting Inequitable Practices In A Toddler Classroom, Emmanuelle N. Fincham, Amanda R. Fellner

Occasional Paper Series

As co-teachers in a toddler room, we share a personal narrative about our experiences working with a child diagnosed with autism while in our care. Framed within the competing discourses of the medicalized perspective on disability and the individual, child-centered philosophies of early childhood education, we investigate the inequities we felt in the classroom and make connections to the field of early childhood inclusive education at large.

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Music Therapy’S Role In The Education System, Madison Riley, Tori L. Colson, Moriah Smothers Sep 2019

Music Therapy’S Role In The Education System, Madison Riley, Tori L. Colson, Moriah Smothers

Kentucky Teacher Education Journal: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Kentucky Council for Exceptional Children

Music therapy is a lesser-known and used related service, yet it provides significant benefits to students that have language, behavioral, and social needs. This article reviews the literature on music therapy, discusses its historical and theoretical roots, and examines its use in educational settings. Special attention is given to therapeutic practices that are geared toward students on the autism spectrum because their social and communication needs are often a good fit for music therapy practices. Recommendations on using music therapy in special and general education classrooms are also made. Additionally, recommendations for including music therapy content in teacher preparation programs …

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Effective Evidence-Based Strategies To Minimize Self-Injurious Behaviors In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Practical Manual For Educators, Ngoc Lan Nguyen Sep 2019

Effective Evidence-Based Strategies To Minimize Self-Injurious Behaviors In Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Practical Manual For Educators, Ngoc Lan Nguyen

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) are relatively common in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and many teachers have difficulties dealing with these challenging behaviors. Besides the possibility of causing serious injuries to children with ASD, the frequent occurrences of SIBs can limit their access to academic instruction and peer interactions. The abundance of possible strategies is confusing for teachers to figure out which strategies to use and how to implement them. The purpose of this project was to develop a guiding manual for educators working with children with ASD. The manual presents proactive, evidence-based strategies to help prevent or decrease students’ …

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Successful Transition Planning For Individuals Diagnosed With Asd: A Comparison Of Sending And Receiving School Districts, Carly J. Olcese Jul 2019

Successful Transition Planning For Individuals Diagnosed With Asd: A Comparison Of Sending And Receiving School Districts, Carly J. Olcese

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that the successful transition plans can provide students who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with increased employment opportunities, independent living options, and most importantly a positive quality of life. Individuals diagnosed with ASD have a variety of symptoms and characteristics that range from moderate to severe. Teachers and parents must work together to provide the child or adult with an education that encompasses their strengths and areas improvement, to allow for independence and future success. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of the components in the transition process as well as …

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In The Shadows Of Autism: A Collective Case Study On Life With A Sibling With Autism In A Military Family, Jennifer M. Henderson-Rudling Jul 2019

In The Shadows Of Autism: A Collective Case Study On Life With A Sibling With Autism In A Military Family, Jennifer M. Henderson-Rudling

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to understand the typically developing (TD) sibling's well-being and role in a military family with a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on a military post through the parent and TD sibling perspective. The three theories which guided this research include the social cognitive theory (Bandura, 2001a), self-determination theory (Ryan and Deci, 2000), and family system theory (Bowen, 1966). These theories were utilized to evaluate and better understand the motivations, characteristics, and the social development within the family when one child has a diagnosis of ASD. The research questions were: (1) How …

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Self-Control Training For Parents Of Children With Autism And Related Disabilities In Albania, Amanda Jane Petersen Jun 2019

Self-Control Training For Parents Of Children With Autism And Related Disabilities In Albania, Amanda Jane Petersen

Theses and Dissertations

Self-control can be defined as the ability to select a larger, later reward over a smaller, sooner reward. This ability, also known as gratification delay, has been highly correlated with academic competence and success. Studies that examine gratification delay have identified strategies that have been observed to increase the delay time to reward. This study examined the extent to which parents of children with Autism or a related disability could be trained to teach these strategies. Participants were seven mothers who were all ethnic Albanian. The results indicated that these mothers were able to teach the three strategies they were …

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The Use Of Assistive Technology With Students With Severe Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In Saudi Arabia: Teachers’ Perspectives, Khalid Mohammed Abu Alghayth May 2019

The Use Of Assistive Technology With Students With Severe Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities In Saudi Arabia: Teachers’ Perspectives, Khalid Mohammed Abu Alghayth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explored teachers’ perspectives of AT use, effectiveness of AT, elements teachers’ take into consideration when selecting AT, barriers, and resources needed for effective use of AT with students with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. In order to answer this study’s research questions, I employed a sequential explanatory mixed methods design. I conducted a self-administered online survey and online interviews to collect data from participants. This study consisted of two phases, quantitative followed by qualitative interviews. A total of 92 special education teachers from four special education institutes were surveyed, and five teachers in the second phase were interviewed …

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The Attitudes Of Secondary School Teachers Regarding Inclusion Of Students With Autism In Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Al Jaffal May 2019

The Attitudes Of Secondary School Teachers Regarding Inclusion Of Students With Autism In Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Al Jaffal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine secondary school teachers’ attitudes regarding the inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In Saudi Arabia, students with ASD can attend regular education classrooms, especially in elementary and middle schools. In addition, the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia is interested in the inclusion of students with ASD in secondary schools. Since the attitudes of secondary school teachers toward inclusion of students with ASD have not been examined, it was important to look at the attitudes of these teachers towards the inclusion of students with ASD so …

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All Means All: Implementation Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication As A Gateway To Achievement, Angelina K. Bassett May 2019

All Means All: Implementation Of Augmentative And Alternative Communication As A Gateway To Achievement, Angelina K. Bassett

Theses and Dissertations from 2019

The importance of individuals’ ability to communicate cannot be overstated. Educational teams are charged with making educational placement decisions for students, like the ones in this study, with assessment tools that are not normed for nonverbal students with autism. This study focused on identical male twins with autism who are nonverbal and have acquired augmentative communication devices equipped with the Language Acquisition through Motor Planning learning system in order to facilitate their communication and learning. Interviews were conducted with parents, sibling, teacher, principal, and the speech-language pathologist that work directly with the twins daily. The twins received their individual devices …

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The Impact Of Explicit Social Skills Instruction And Increased Play In A Kindergarten Special Education Classroom, Samantha Klaren May 2019

The Impact Of Explicit Social Skills Instruction And Increased Play In A Kindergarten Special Education Classroom, Samantha Klaren

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

The purpose of this action research project is to determine the impact of explicit social skills instruction and an increased amount of play in a kindergarten special education classroom. Data was collected to determine the effect that this intervention had on students’ behavior and academic progress. Data was collected through student referral data and Individualized Education Plan progress monitoring data. Analysis of the data collected suggested that this explicit social skills instruction and increase in play had a positive impact on student behavior in the school setting.

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Component Analysis Of The Cool Vs. Not Cool Procedure, Mary Yoo May 2019

Component Analysis Of The Cool Vs. Not Cool Procedure, Mary Yoo

Culminating Projects in Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy

One of the characteristics of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder is the inability to develop the social skills needed to develop meaningful relationships. Several behavior programs have been developed to effectively teach a variety of necessary social skills. One of these programs has been proven to be effective with children with autism is the cool versus not cool procedure. There is a growing body of research that has demonstrated its effectiveness to helping teach appropriate social behaviors to individuals in this population (Au et al., 2016; Leaf et al., 2012; Leaf et al., 2015; Leaf, Leaf et al., 2016). However, …

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An Evaluation Of Conventional And Progressive Discrete Trial Teaching When Teaching Receptive Labels, Elizabeth Wong May 2019

An Evaluation Of Conventional And Progressive Discrete Trial Teaching When Teaching Receptive Labels, Elizabeth Wong

Culminating Projects in Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy

This study evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of conventional DTT and progressive DTT when teaching receptive labels to three children all diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The conventional DTT approach used a conventional approach, which is a method of balancing the trial order and location of at least three stimuli in a teaching session. In contrast, the progressive approach DTT allowed the teacher to be flexible and assess in the moment the trial order. Using an alternating treatment design replicated for three sets and three participants, the results showed that progressive DTT was the most efficient and effective procedure for …

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Functional Communication Training And Autism Spectrum Disorders, Danielle Dominguez May 2019

Functional Communication Training And Autism Spectrum Disorders, Danielle Dominguez

Culminating Projects in Special Education

Functional Communication Training and Autism Spectrum Disorders

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A Sensory-Friendly Musicking Experience, Emma Stumpf Apr 2019

A Sensory-Friendly Musicking Experience, Emma Stumpf

Honors Projects

For individuals with sensory processing disorders, attending a traditional musical performance can be uncomfortable, inaccessible, and sometimes impossible. From the duration of the performances, the overwhelming variety and volume of sounds, as well as the rigid, unwritten rules that performances in the Western art music tradition demand, typical concert settings present challenges for many of those with sensory processing disorders. These challenges include hypersensitivity to lights and sounds, as well as being asked to remain quiet and seated for long periods of time. This project is a research-based creative endeavor centered upon individuals with sensory processing disorders – specifically, those …

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Sensory Integration Therapy On Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kacie Reusser, Kathryn Brandon Apr 2019

Sensory Integration Therapy On Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kacie Reusser, Kathryn Brandon

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The use of sensory integration in classrooms that have students with special needs, especially students with autism spectrum disorder have been increasing in recent years. Different kinds of sensory stimulation can be beneficial for students who have autism spectrum disorder. Students who have autism may struggle with noise, tactile, taste, or visual sensory sensitivities. We believe that having sensory integration therapy techniques implemented in the classroom would help students with disabilities by increasing their focus and reduce stemming in the classroom. We intend to review and analyze published research articles in the field and based on our findings, we intend …

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Dysgraphia, Madeline Brown Apr 2019

Dysgraphia, Madeline Brown

Classical Conversations

Envision a kindergarten student sitting in school with an assignment to copy. As she sits down, she already knows the challenge writing presents for her but does not speak up or say anything because this time probably will not be any different than when she requested help before. She has been labeled as a lazy writer and has never had the most readable handwriting. All of the other children around her finish the assignment and she inevitably she remains unable to complete the first sentence. This scene does not have to play out this way. Students in schools across the …

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Autism And Inclusion In England’S Multi Academy Trust: A Case Study Of A Senior Leadership Team, Danielle Lane Apr 2019

Autism And Inclusion In England’S Multi Academy Trust: A Case Study Of A Senior Leadership Team, Danielle Lane

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I explore how the senior leadership team at an Academy Trust in England understands and operationalizes inclusion, particularly for pupils whose learning profile includes autism. England’s policies regarding inclusion appear to focus on the placement of pupils with disabilities in the mainstream provision; however, the Academy Trust, a specialist provision, suggests their school is inclusive. Gaining insight into the senior leadership team’s understandings and operationalization of inclusion will provide further understandings of inclusion in Multi Academy Trusts that are specialist provisions. In this study, I examine the understandings of eight members of a senior leadership team at …

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Hidden Curriculum In A Special Education Context: The Case Of Individuals With Autism, Mona F. Sulaimani, Dianne M. Gut Mar 2019

Hidden Curriculum In A Special Education Context: The Case Of Individuals With Autism, Mona F. Sulaimani, Dianne M. Gut

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This article examines the issue of hidden curriculum as it pertains to the experiences of individuals with disabilities, primarily those diagnosed with autism disorders. Examining the assumptions regarding the hidden curriculum, this article explores the challenges these assumptions create for individuals with autism. We provide suggestions for how these challenges could be overcome through the use of specific strategies.

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Implications And Interventions For Reducing The Use Of Restraint And Seclusion On Students Receiving Special Education Services, Samantha Lynn Gruidl Jan 2019

Implications And Interventions For Reducing The Use Of Restraint And Seclusion On Students Receiving Special Education Services, Samantha Lynn Gruidl

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores a difficult subject for both parents and special educators: the use of restraint and seclusion in the classroom. While no teacher wants to go hands-on with a student, crisis situations can arise in which a student becomes a threat to themselves or others. In these moments restrictive procedures are employed to maintain safety, but this does not address the underlying issues that caused the unsafe behavior in the first place, or prevent the behavior from occurring again. In this thesis, it has been set out to determine the risks involved with using these restrictive procedures, as well …

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Autism And The Impact On Multicultural Famlies, Mai Kou Lor Jan 2019

Autism And The Impact On Multicultural Famlies, Mai Kou Lor

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the impact of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with parents from different cultures all over the world. The literature review focused on ways negative and positive outcomes impacted parents and caregivers raising children with autism. The results showed that even though parents and caregivers experienced high stress levels and difficult times, they gained a better perspectives and coping skills when learning to accept the autism disability. Studying information from other cultures and autism provides greater understanding about how autism impacts the Hmong community, when parents are raising a child with autism.

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How Nature Impacts The Social, Emotional, And Sensory Needs Of Students On The Autism Spectrum, Andrea Marie Mogren Jan 2019

How Nature Impacts The Social, Emotional, And Sensory Needs Of Students On The Autism Spectrum, Andrea Marie Mogren

All Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Meeting the sensory needs of students is often currently confined to classroom modifications. Teachers try to meet sensory, social, and emotional needs through human-developed methods such as fidgets, lighting covers, flexible seating, occupational therapy, and structuring activities. There is a growing body of research suggesting that sensory needs of students on the autism spectrum can be met through natural elements commonly found in outdoor environments. Frequently common barriers to success in the classroom for students with autism include, high anxiety, inability to sustain attention, and lack of motivation to complete tasks. The purpose of this thesis was to analyze way …

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The Effects Of Teacher Implementation Of Differential Reinforcement Of Alternative Behavior In Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Elena J. Hitch Jan 2019

The Effects Of Teacher Implementation Of Differential Reinforcement Of Alternative Behavior In Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Elena J. Hitch

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a classroom teacher implementing trail-based functional analyses (FAs), experimentally evaluate the effects of a classroom teacher implementing differential reinforcement of alternative (DRA) procedures with participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the context of a natural setting, and assess the feasibility of the DRA for the classroom teacher. A multiple baseline with an embedded ABAB design was used for one participant and an ABAB design was used for the second participant to measure the percentage of the participants’ engagement in the alternative behavior and the target behavior. Results showed …

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Comparison Of Evidence-Based Practices For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Melissa Bittner, Mariya T. Davis Jan 2019

Comparison Of Evidence-Based Practices For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Melissa Bittner, Mariya T. Davis

Special Education Faculty Publications

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015) reinforces and clearly defines the requirement of school districts to use evidence-based practices (EBPs) to improve student outcomes. The ESSA requires schools to find, evaluate, and implement effective EBPs that support high-quality learning for all students, including those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It is necessary for teachers to use identified EBPs when developing individualized education programs and providing necessary interventions for students with ASD. The purpose of this article is to: (a) examine EBPs determined by two national organizations (i.e., National Professional Development Center, National Standards Project Phase 2), (b) compare overlapping …

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The Relationship Between Social Skills And Problem Behaviors In Adolescent Males With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Amanda Armstrong Randall Jan 2019

The Relationship Between Social Skills And Problem Behaviors In Adolescent Males With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Amanda Armstrong Randall

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Adolescent males with autism spectrum disorder commonly display an increased prevalence of problem behaviors and persistent deficits in social skills when compared to their typically developing peers. The present study deployed a single subject, multiple-baseline design to investigate the use of the social skills training program Super Skills: A Social Skills Group Program for Children with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and Related Challengesto promote enhanced social skills and minimize problem behaviors. Two groups of adolescent males with autism (N = 6) participated in weekly social skills training groups also containing typically developing peers (N = 3) once …

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The Role Of Animal-Assisted Interventions In Communication Skills Of Children With Autism, Jennifer Ann Friedrich Jan 2019

The Role Of Animal-Assisted Interventions In Communication Skills Of Children With Autism, Jennifer Ann Friedrich

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties with social communication and prosocial behaviors. Due to a lack of social communication and social interaction skills among children with ASD, special education teachers are tasked with providing meaningful social opportunities to them to facilitate their learning of these skills. Special education literature lacks research studies about how dog-based animal-assisted interventions (AAI) can improve social communication outcomes for children in a school setting. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study, guided by Bowlby's theory of attachment and the human-animal bond concept, was to explore, describe, and improve the understanding of …

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