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Full-Text Articles in Education
Understanding Carers' Lived Experience Of Stigma: The Voice Of Families With A Child On The Autism Spectrum, Timothy Broady, Gerard J. Stoyles, Corinne Morse
Understanding Carers' Lived Experience Of Stigma: The Voice Of Families With A Child On The Autism Spectrum, Timothy Broady, Gerard J. Stoyles, Corinne Morse
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
Existing research suggests that there are several unique challenges associated with caring for a child on the autism spectrum. Despite a growing evidence base regarding autism spectrum disorders and their increasing prevalence, children on the autism spectrum and their families continue to perceive stigmatisation from various sources throughout the community. These perceptions of stigma can profoundly impact the quality of life of these children and their carers alike. This exploratory study sought to investigate carers' perceptions of stigma in caring for a child with high functioning autism. Fifteen carers from Sydney and the South Coast regions of New South Wales, …
How Well Are Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Doing Academically At School? An Overview Of The Literature, Deb Keen, Amanda Webster, Greta Ridley
How Well Are Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Doing Academically At School? An Overview Of The Literature, Deb Keen, Amanda Webster, Greta Ridley
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
The academic achievement of individuals with autism spectrum disorder has received little attention from researchers despite the importance placed on this by schools, families and students with autism spectrum disorder. Investigating factors that lead to increased academic achievement thus would appear to be very important. A review of the literature was conducted to identify factors related to the academic achievement of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. A total of 19 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria for the review. Results indicated that many individuals demonstrate specific areas of strength and weakness and there is a great …
A Personal Constructivist Approach For Investigating The Patterns Of Dependency Of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Case Study Of Two Families, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Peter Caputi, Beverly M. Walker, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee
A Personal Constructivist Approach For Investigating The Patterns Of Dependency Of Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Case Study Of Two Families, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Peter Caputi, Beverly M. Walker, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
This research investigated the utility and practicality of dependency grids for capturing and presenting the dependency distribution patterns of three adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The investigation also involved family members to explore their level of awareness of the adolescents' dependency preferences. The grids were analyzed using a range of measures, including the uncertainty index and partial order scalogram analysis. Findings indicate the adolescents had various ways of dispersing their dependencies among their resources and differed in the types of support most used. Additionally, family members differed in their awareness of the adolescents' preferences. The benefits and drawbacks of the …
The Perceptions And Experiences Of Adolescent Boys With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Personal Construct Psychology Perspective, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Peter Caputi, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee
The Perceptions And Experiences Of Adolescent Boys With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Personal Construct Psychology Perspective, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Peter Caputi, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
Background This study applies personal construct psychology for understanding the experiences of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method Semistructured interviews were conducted with 26 participants from 8 families, including adolescent males with ASD, mothers, fathers, and adolescent neurotypically developing siblings. Analysis of interview data was structured according to the themes presented in a previous theoretical application of personal construct theory (PCT) for understanding adolescents with ASD. Results Themes included complexity of the adolescent social realm, sense-making in multifaceted situations, identity development, development of flexible processing styles, and understanding and managing physical and emotional changes associated with puberty. Conclusion The …
Building The Capacity Of Schools To Achieve Outcomes For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Project, Amanda A. Webster, Jacqueline R. Roberts
Building The Capacity Of Schools To Achieve Outcomes For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Pilot Project, Amanda A. Webster, Jacqueline R. Roberts
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
The number of students with ASD attending mainstream schools has increased dramatically over the past decade. Teachers are reporting they often feel ill-equipped and anxious about meeting the needs of students with ASD in their classroom (Emam & Farrell, 2009). In addition, parents are increasingly expressing frustration with the quantity and quality of support their children with ASD are receiving in school settings and are increasingly resorting to home schooling and other alternative options to meet the needs of their children (Parsons, Lewis, & Ellins, 2009). Finally, school principals have also reported they lack training and information on how to …
Being A Girl In A Boys' World: Investigating The Experiences Of Girls With Autism Spectrum Disorders During Adolescence, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Caputi, Christopher Magee
Being A Girl In A Boys' World: Investigating The Experiences Of Girls With Autism Spectrum Disorders During Adolescence, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Sandra C. Jones, Peter Caputi, Christopher Magee
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
This study investigates the experiences of adolescent girls with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) during adolescence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three mother–daughter dyads and two additional mothers. A range of issues were highlighted covering physical, emotional, social and sexual domains. Some of these issues were similar to those experienced by boys with ASD during adolescence, such as negative implications of late diagnosis, challenges of transitioning to and coping with high school, ‘hands-on’ role of parents into adolescence, difficulties adjusting to the increased demands of adolescent hygiene routines, and the importance of learning personal boundaries in interactions with others. Other issues …
Impaired Perception Of Facial Motion In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Justin O'Brien, Janine Spencer, Christine Girges, Alan Johnston, Harold Hill
Impaired Perception Of Facial Motion In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Justin O'Brien, Janine Spencer, Christine Girges, Alan Johnston, Harold Hill
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
Facial motion is a special type of biological motion that transmits cues for socio-emotional communication and enables the discrimination of properties such as gender and identity. We used animated average faces to examine the ability of adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to perceive facial motion. Participants completed increasingly difficult tasks involving the discrimination of (1) sequences of facial motion, (2) the identity of individuals based on their facial motion and (3) the gender of individuals. Stimuli were presented in both upright and upside-down orientations to test for the difference in inversion effects often found when comparing ASD with controls …
Family-Focused Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: A Review Of The Utility Of Family Systems Approaches, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee, Peter Caputi
Family-Focused Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: A Review Of The Utility Of Family Systems Approaches, Elizabeth Kate Cridland, Sandra C. Jones, Christopher A. Magee, Peter Caputi
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
A family member with an autism spectrum disorder presents pervasive and bidirectional influences on the entire family system, suggesting a need for family-focused autism spectrum disorder research. While there has been increasing interest in this research area, family-focused autism spectrum disorder research can still be considered relatively recent, and there are limitations to the existing literature. The purpose of this article is to provide theoretical and methodological directions for future family-focused autism spectrum disorder research. In particular, this article proposes Family Systems approaches as a common theoretical framework for future family-focused autism spectrum disorder research by considering theoretical concepts such …
The Effects Of A Multi-Component Higher-Functioning Autism Anti-Stigma Program On Adolescent Boys, Jessica J. Staniland, Mitchell K. Byrne
The Effects Of A Multi-Component Higher-Functioning Autism Anti-Stigma Program On Adolescent Boys, Jessica J. Staniland, Mitchell K. Byrne
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
A six-session higher-functioning autism anti-stigma program incorporating descriptive, explanatory and directive information was delivered to adolescent boys and the impact upon knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intentions towards peers with autism was evaluated. Participants were seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade students (N = 395) from regular classes in a mainstream school. Two-eighth-grade classes were randomly allocated to the intervention condition and all remaining students were either allocated to the no-intervention peer or no-intervention non-peer condition. The anti-stigma program improved the knowledge and attitudes, but not the behavioural intentions of participants towards their peers with autism. Knowledge and attitudinal changes were maintained at …
Exploring The 'Tool Metaphor' For Using Digital Technology In Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd), Roselyn M. Dixon, Irina Verenikina
Exploring The 'Tool Metaphor' For Using Digital Technology In Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd), Roselyn M. Dixon, Irina Verenikina
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
Since computer technologies entered the educational domain, a number of metaphors have been introduced in the literature to explain this newly emerged phenomenon to educators in familiar terms. This chapter explores the ways that the conceptualisation of educational technologies as a teaching 'tool' can assist our understanding of the implementation of a new digital technology, the interactive whiteboard (IWB), in teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The tool metaphor relates to a socio-cultural concept of a tool mediated purposeful human activity as a unit of analysis in educational research (Vygotsky, 1978). The activity model (Engestrom, 1991) was adopted in …
"I Hope This Can Be Shared With Everyone In Lots Of Schools": A Novel Intervention To Improve Social Skills Of Peers Of Children With Autism, Sandra Jones, Joanne Telenta, Fiona Mckay
"I Hope This Can Be Shared With Everyone In Lots Of Schools": A Novel Intervention To Improve Social Skills Of Peers Of Children With Autism, Sandra Jones, Joanne Telenta, Fiona Mckay
Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are lifelong developmental disabilities characterised by marked difficulties in social interaction, impaired communication, restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours, and sensory sensitivities (Aspect 2009). While there is considerable debate as to prevalence, Centrelink data shows an estimated prevalence of 62.5 per 10,000 for 6-12 year old children (McDermott et al. 2007). While young children find social situations aversive and prefer to play alone, as these children reach their teens many desire social contact with their peers but lack the ability to form and maintain friendships. Observations in schools demonstrate peer interaction in children with ASDs is …
Interactive Whiteboards As A Tool For Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Irina Verenikina, Kathleen Tanner, Roselyn M. Dixon, Elleni De Graaf
Interactive Whiteboards As A Tool For Teaching Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Irina Verenikina, Kathleen Tanner, Roselyn M. Dixon, Elleni De Graaf
Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)
This paper presents part of a research study on the affordances of digital technologies in the learning of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) undertaken in the Faculty of Education, University of Wollongong. The study is framed around the understanding of modern digital technologies, and Interactive Whiteboards (IWBs) in particular, as cognitive tools for teaching and learning based on the theory of social and cultural mediation of children’s development and learning (Vygotsky, 1978; Engestrom, 2001). The view of the IWB as a teaching and learning tool is twofold: firstly, the IWB is analysed as a tool that can be used …
The Digital Technology In The Learning Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd) In Applied Classroom Settings, Kathleen Tanner, Roselyn M. Dixon, Irina Verenikina
The Digital Technology In The Learning Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd) In Applied Classroom Settings, Kathleen Tanner, Roselyn M. Dixon, Irina Verenikina
Faculty of Education - Papers (Archive)
This paper describes a research study that is a stepping stone to further research on the affordances of digital technologies in the learning of students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The study is framed around the modern understanding of technologies as cognitive tools for learning based on the theory of social and cultural mediation of children’s development and learning (Vygotsky, 1978), together with Activity Theory (Engestrom, 2001). The study focuses on the day-to-day reality of the use of computer and other digital technologies to assist the classroom learning of children with ASD. A series of observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers …