Supporting practitioners in school-based evaluations of autism spectrum disorders

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have vastly different educational needs. Although some students with ASD may perform well across subjects within the general education classroom, other students with ASD may need more individualized support outside of the classroom. Historically, ASD assessments in schools have primarily focused on the measurement of cornerstone behaviors of ASD such as deficits in social communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors while underestimating the focus of academic skills even though both factors are required in the evaluation process and for an eligibility classification. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of academic assessment practices in the schools by highlighting best practices in ASD evaluation, outlining ASD academic profiles and how to identify academic skill deficits, and reviewing the available literature that comes from different formal- and function-based assessment practices that are commonly used in schools today. The authors also discuss how formal- and function-based assessments both serve a purpose and are recommended to be used in conjunction with one another to best demonstrate a student's academic profile. Practitioners are ultimately encouraged to use a multi-informant, multi-modal approach when it comes to psychoeducational evaluations for individuals with ASD as it is evident that an individualized approach is essential due to the discrepancy of academic profiles related to this disability category as well as understanding that no measure is a perfect representation of any one skill.     

Relationship of executive functioning and memory to autism symptomology and adaptive functioning: Implications for reducing future underemployment

Understanding the relationship between executive functioning and its connection to working memory and adaptive functioning can inform planning and employment efforts. This study explored the relationship between memory and adaptive functioning with a sample of Autistic youths/young adults. Participant mean age was 21.3 (SD = 3.0). Of the 22 participants, 17 were male, and 19 white, non-Hispanic/Latina/o/x. All but one lived with their parent(s). Participants were administered a full battery assessing cognitive ability (WAIS-IV), memory and executive functioning (WMS-IV and DKEFS), autism symptomatology (ADOS-II), and adaptive functioning (SIB-R). A multivariate lasso regression model was used. Memory, especially as measured on the WMS-IV, was found to be significantly related to adaptive functioning and autism symptomatology. There appears to be continuing evidence that memory is highly related to adaptive functioning and autism symptomatology. Interventions involving auditory and immediate memory could be helpful in promoting more mutually effective social interactions necessary for positive employment outcomes.     

Autism and intersectionality: Considerations for school-based practitioners

The purpose of this article is to explore the intersectionality of autism and sociocultural factors as well as discuss the complexities associated with appropriate assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. Based on a review of the literature, the authors present a brief history of the emergence of the term autism and highlight factors that have contributed to current concerns about failures to appropriately recognize autism within diverse populations. Referencing extant research as well as professional practice standards, this article examines aspects of autism and intersectionality, and explores some of the associated challenges related to assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. Further, the authors reflect on the critical importance of carefully considering all aspects of a child's identity when engaging in autism assessment and intervention within the school setting. School-based practitioners are provided with guidance for addressing the needs of diverse populations of students with autism.     

自闭症幼儿的体育干预实验案例研究

号称“百慕大三角”、“特殊儿童之王”的自闭症是一种由大脑、神经以及基因的病变所引起的综合症,集人际关系隔离、语言困难及行为障碍等于一身。对有关自闭症干预文献进行了系统的整理与分析,发现存在很多不足,试图通过实验对体育干预的效果进行检验。实验研究的设计:采用单因素组间多基线设计,将筛选好的8名被试随机分配到实验组和对照组;自变量:体育干预(体育游戏主要指动作模仿、感觉统合训练、按摩、远足旅行与一定量专项练习等);因变量:幼儿自闭症发展程度。结果表明,体育干预可以作为现行自闭症幼儿早期干预的辅助方法。     

Design and development of VR learning environments for children with ASD

Basic social interaction and executing certain tasks can be difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The symptoms of such behaviour include inappropriate gestures, body language and facial expressions, lack of interest in certain tasks, cognitive disability in coordination of limbs, and a difficulty in comprehending tasks’ requirements. This paper will discuss our efforts to develop virtual learning environments for children with ASD to improve their gestures and their interests in comprehending tasks’ requirements. Virtual environments are ideal for imparting skills necessary for independence before encouraging children with ASD to try these out in the real world and gain real-life experience. A high-end solution and a simplified solution will be presented together with a discussion on their comparison study.     

从神经可塑性角度探究自闭症早期干预的有效性

早期干预是国内外自闭症领域的研究热点,大量的实证研究表明早期干预能够有效改善自闭症的早期症状,特别是对于处在发展关键期的儿童。早期干预能够促进大脑沿着正常的轨迹发展,从而对早期发展中的大脑产生根本的影响。     

图片交换沟通系统对自闭症儿童干预有效性研究综述

众多自闭谱系障碍个体在沟通方面面临不同程度的困难,功能性语言的缺失是其中的突出问题,这严重阻碍了自闭症儿童的发展和社会融入。图片交换沟通系统通过逐步递进的六个阶段,改善儿童的沟通能力。随着图片交换沟通系统的广泛使用,众多研究者开始关注该方法的有效性。研究表明,图片交换沟通系统可以作为改善自闭症儿童功能性沟通能力的有效方法,虽然其同言语产生关系的研究尚未取得一致性结论,但它并不会阻碍言语的产生。     

高功能自闭症儿童沙盘干预的个案研究——基于自闭症谱系认知理论的分析

通过对一名高功能自闭症儿童进行为期8个月的沙盘干预,探讨沙盘对于高功能自闭症儿童的治疗效果,并用自闭症谱系认识理论进行分析。结果发现,个案使用的沙具由单一变得多样化,主动性言语增多,刻板重复言语等症状不同程度地减少。该个案的沙盘表现支持ToM及相关理论。     

Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of simSchool as preparation for inclusive education: a pilot study

The shift towards the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular schools has meant that general classroom teachers need to be skilled in educating students with a diverse range of needs and abilities. Together with theoretical study and as a supplement to practical experience, teacher educators have begun to explore virtual and simulated classrooms to help prepare pre-service teachers for the complexity of the teaching profession. In this pilot study, we examined the perspective of pre-service teachers on a classroom simulation program called “simSchool.” Two-hour-long tutorial sessions focusing on catering for student diversity and the educational needs of students with autism spectrum disorder were conducted. The pre-service teachers’ responses to an 11-item questionnaire are discussed, highlighting the potential of simSchool as well as some current limitations of this approach in the context of Australian teacher education courses.     

Investigating the social engagement of children with autism in mainstream schools for the purpose of identifying learning targets

The social needs of children with autism are complex, and their inclusion in mainstream schools necessitates a consideration of the nature of a child's participation in peer culture and how it is received by others. The case study reported here sought to investigate the social engagement of a child with autism and his peers using naturalistic methods to provide contextualised and detailed information. A comparative approach was used to study different social contexts: the wider class group, the peer group which included the child with autism, and the individual participation of the child with autism compared with this smaller group. Findings indicate that the child with autism demonstrated a number of competencies in relation to his own social group and that social difficulties were not necessarily seen as a weakness within the peer culture. The importance of careful analysis of social processes and the use of reflective assessment to autism education is highlighted.