ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of educational programs for school-aged children with autism in the United States. Investigators completed the Autism Program Environment Quality Rating Systems-Preschool/Elementary (APERS-PE) in 60 elementary schools enrolling children with autism. The mean total rating scores were near the midpoint rating, indicating schools were providing educational program environments classified as adequate but not of high quality. Domains of the APERS-PE reflecting structural quality tended to be significantly above average and domains reflecting process quality tended to be significantly below average. With a few exceptions, inclusive and special education program did not differ significantly in total program quality ratings and reflected the same pattern of domain quality ratings.
Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder , Child , Child, Preschool , Education, Special , Educational Status , Humans , Schools , Students , United StatesABSTRACT
LAY ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to identify influences on the implementation of a school-based, comprehensive program for autistic students. Influences from the community context, from within the school organization, and from features of the intervention itself were examined. The study took place in 39 elementary schools in a southeastern state in the United States. Transformational leadership style of the building principal, percentage of white students at the school (which was proposed as a broader community socioeconomic variable), and adequacy of coaching were all associated with implementation.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic Disorder , Educational Personnel , Humans , School Health Services , Schools , StudentsABSTRACT
Measurement of social-pragmatic communication skills is essential for clinicians and researchers working with school-aged children on the autism spectrum. Many measures of these skills require time-intensive training and coding that is impractical for clinical assessment settings. Using a sample of 299 elementary school children (M = 8.6 years, sd = 1.7) with autism whose teachers completed the Children's Communication Checklist-2, we evaluated the psychometric properties of the CCC-2, a commonly used measure of social-pragmatic skills in order to assist researchers and clinicians in identifying the utility of this measure related to their assessment needs. Our results indicate strong psychometric properties for the CCC-2 with this population and a 3-factor model fit: Structural Language, Pragmatic Communication, and Pragmatic Social. Evidence of racial/ethnic bias was found for the structural language factor. Clinical recommendations are provided for using the CCC-2 with students with autism as reported by teachers.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic Disorder , Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis , Autistic Disorder/diagnosis , Checklist , Child , Communication , Humans , Psychometrics , StudentsABSTRACT
Commemorating the 40 th anniversary of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) III, the purpose of this commentary is to describe school-based and school-relevant interventions and instructional approaches for children and youth with autism that have been developed and employed during that time period. The commentary begins with a brief description of foundational research that provides an historical context. Research themes shaped by science, ethics, social policy, and the changes in the DSM provide an organization for describing the evolution of intervention and instructional practices over the four previous decades. The commentary concludes with a discussion of school-contextual variables that influence implementation and the promise of the "iSciences" for closing the research to practice gap in the future.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Autistic Disorder , Adolescent , Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis , Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy , Autistic Disorder/therapy , Child , Humans , SchoolsABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a comprehensive program model originally developed by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC). Sixty elementary schools with 486 participants were randomly assigned to an NPDC and services as usual condition (SAU). Significantly greater changes in program quality occurred in the inclusive NPDC programs as compared with the SAU schools. Teachers in NPDC schools reported using more evidence-based practices (EBPs) and implemented EBPs with significantly greater fidelity than teachers in SAU schools. Autistic students in NPDC schools had significantly higher total attainment of educational goals than students in SAU schools, and the two groups made equivalent progress on standardized assessment outcomes across the school year.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder/psychology , Education, Special/methods , Evidence-Based Practice/methods , Academic Performance/psychology , Academic Performance/statistics & numerical data , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Program Evaluation , Schools , Students/psychologyABSTRACT
Comprehensive reviews of the research literature have identified that focused intervention practices for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder have evidence of producing positive developmental and learning outcomes. The Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM) project has translated evidence-based practices identified by Wong et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 45(7):1951-1966, 2015) into online learning modules. The purpose of this paper is to describe (1) the process for translating the research literature into practical information that practitioners can use, (2) its dissemination through a freely accessible website, (3) the use of the modules by over 64,500 users located in the United States and abroad, (4) knowledge gained as a result of completing the modules, and (5) consumers' evaluations of modules usefulness and relevance.
Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder/rehabilitation , Evidence-Based Practice , Information Dissemination/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Autism Spectrum Disorder/therapy , Child , Facilities and Services Utilization/statistics & numerical data , Female , HumansABSTRACT
The ability for a child to engage in the classroom is associated with better academic outcomes. Yet, there is limited information on how child characteristics of autism and adult behavior impact engagement. This study examined (1) the pattern of adult participation and child engagement in preschool classrooms that serve children with ASD, (2) the associations between child engagement and adult participation, and (3) how characteristics of ASD (autism severity, language ability, and challenging behavior) moderate the relationship between adult participation and child engagement. Overall, children were less likely to be engaged when adults were actively or passively participating with them. Moderators impacted this relationship. Children with higher levels of autism severity were more likely to be engaged when adults were actively or passively participating with them. Similarly, children with lower language abilities were more likely to be engaged when adults were actively or passively participating with them. Finally, children with higher levels of challenging behaviors were less likely to be engaged when adults were actively or passively participating with them. These findings have important implications for how adults can best support the engagement of children with ASD.
