Young people with high‐functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome planning for and anticipating the move to college: what supports a positive transition?

For many young people in England, the move into continuing education involves a transfer from the school where they were educated to a further education college. For those with high‐functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome, this can be a challenging process. Past research has demonstrated some of the problems that these young people can encounter. This article by Wendy Mitchell and Bryony Beresford, both based in the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York, adds to the evidence base by describing how best to support these young people, focusing specifically on ‘young person endorsed’ practice. Data are gleaned from qualitative interviews with 18 young people with high‐functioning autism/Asperger's syndrome. Findings reveal that young people welcomed the involvement of practitioners; however, specific forms of help and knowledge were particularly valued. In addition, it was parents, as opposed to professionals, who typically emerged as the most significant and valued source of support. Implications for practice are discussed, including the support needs of parents.     

What does ‘inclusion’ mean for pupils on the autistic spectrum in mainstream secondary schools?

The last decade has seen a groundswell of developments in educational policy in the UK relating to inclusive education for students with special educational needs (SEN). However, whether government policy has been fully implemented in schools remains a concern. The experience of students with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) provides an excellent case in point. An increasing number of such students are now educated in mainstream schools, but the limited research in this area has indicated that their experience of school is often marked by bullying, social isolation and anxiety. In light of this, the aim of the current study was to examine the extent to which inclusive educational policy was actually reflected in the practices of four mainstream secondary schools. An exploratory case study approach was adopted, utilising interviews with pupils, teachers, other school staff (e.g., senior managers, learning support assistants) and parents, observations of lessons and other contexts (e.g., lunch time), and document analysis. Our findings highlighted a number of school practices which acted as facilitators or barriers to students’ learning and participation, some of which were generic to SEN provision, and some of which appeared to be specific to those on the autistic spectrum. A discussion of these is presented to enable further understanding of, and inform practice relating to, the inclusion process for students with ASDs.     

视频示范教学法在自闭症谱系障碍者职业技能训练中的应用

视频示范教学法在自闭症谱系障碍者职业技能训练中的应用模式包括基本视频示范教学模式、自我视频示范模式、视频提示和视频反馈,并经常与虚拟现实和提示系统等其他循证实践一起使用。未来的研究和实践中应使用视频示范教学加强对非操作性技能的训练,探索更具竞争性的职业种类进行训练,培训专业人员,研发视频示范教学关联软件、注重被试样本的多样性及差异性、比较不同应用模式的干预效果。     

The effect of choice on motivation for young children on the autism spectrum during discrete trial teaching

Self‐determination and decision‐making are acknowledged internationally as key rights of persons with disabilities and should play an important role in the development of educational plans and procedures. Not only is the chance for individuals with developmental disabilities to select their own tasks, leisure activities or reinforcers a valuable way of enhancing rights‐based education and personal dignity, but choice‐making opportunities may also function as a useful clinical or educational tool if they actually improve the efficacy of programmes aimed at the acquisition of socially relevant behaviours and life skills or the reduction of challenging behaviours. The study reported here assessed whether or not choice affected effectiveness of an educational procedure for three children on the autism spectrum. Following a preference assessment, a number of discrete teaching trials were conducted with each child and, contingent upon targeted responses, either the child or the therapist selected one of three preferred reinforcer items. Reinforcer choice did not affect intervention effectiveness for two of the children; however, performance and motivation improved for the third child. Results re‐affirmed the importance of thorough preference assessments prior to intervention and showed that additional stimulus choice contingent on the target response may improve motivation and outcomes for some children.     

和谐社会构建背景下我国幼儿艺术教育改革的新思考

构建和谐社会必须有与之相适应的教育为基础和先导,同时又赋予教育更高的要求和期望。构建和谐社会必然会对作为基础教育组成部分的幼儿艺术教育提出新的时代要求。与和谐社会相适应的我国幼儿艺术教育必须思考从其教育的目标、内容、方法、组织形式和评价方面进行改革。     

孤独症儿童的特征与训练策略

近来，对孤独症儿童的诊断、分类、神经生理特点、认知特点、训练策略等的研究有许多新成果。这些对我们进一步认识孤独症有重要的意义。     

Virtual reality based collaborative design by children with high-functioning autism: design-based flexibility,identity, and norm construction

This exploratory case study examined the process and potential impact of collaborative architectural design and construction in an OpenSimulator-based virtual reality (VR) on the social skills development of children with high-functioning autism (HFA). Two children with a formal medical diagnosis of HFA and one typically developing peer, aged 8–11, were purposefully recruited and matched in a five-week, VR-based architectural design project. Participants’ virtual behaviors and discourses were observed and archived via screen recording. We conducted qualitative time-series and micro-behavior analyses with the data collected. The findings demonstrated that VR-based collaborative design has awarded children with HFA an opportunity to practice and develop flexibility, identity, and norm construction. The target children's design-based social performance was mediated by the VR environment, the context or structure of design partnership, and the nature of a specific design task.     

孤独症儿童表情及变化诱因的研究

本研究以2—8岁的57名孤独症儿童为研究对象,采用问卷调查法、观察法、自然实验法对孤独症儿童的表情(愉快、愤怒、悲伤、恐惧、惊讶)发展状况及特点进行研究,并对引起各种表情变化的外在诱因进行分析。研究发现孤独症儿童的表情发展异常,很多孤独症儿童表情的种类没有普通儿童丰富。有些孤独症儿童存在特殊的表情及情绪行为,认知水平不同的儿童,引起其表情变化的诱因存在差异。     

一个自闭症儿童的初期训练

文章对一个自闭症儿童在初期训练中采用离散单元教学法、游戏法和感觉统合治疗法着重发展儿童的基本能力 ,使儿童在目光接触、听从指令、模仿能力、感觉统合能力和表达要求方面得到显著改善 ,研究说明从现有能力入手、采取针对性的训练 ,进行全面、综合性干预 ,对促进自闭症儿童的能力发展能取到较好效果。     

婴幼儿自传体记忆研究的现状及展望

自传体记忆一直以来都是记忆研究领域的热点,它与人的认知、情绪、人格、社会性发展等多方面有着密切联系。该综述对近年来自传体记忆研究的一些进展做了回顾,总结了自传体记忆的内容界定、研究方法及其发生发展和影响因素等方面新的研究成果,提出目前在这一领域研究上存在的不足与展望。