This article describes an empirical study that explored the cognitive and emotional effects of teaching through shadow theater as compared to traditional storytelling of the same texts and songs in children on the autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The rationale is based on broken mirror theory anchored in research on mirror neurons. Fifty-seven…

Student retention in kindergarten is a common practice, so that students will obtain the necessary school preparation for elementary school. However, this practice is also used for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), without sufficient research data on the impacts of retention on this group of students. The current study examines the…

To cope with students' problem behaviors, which is a frequently encountered problem within inclusive education implementations, classroom teachers often require some form of in-service training. In considering this issue, the current study aimed to determine the effectiveness of an online problem behavior professional development program…

Research has established that implementing evidence-based practices with a high procedural fidelity is integral in promoting positive outcomes for students with moderate-to-severe disabilities and more significant support needs. However, special education teachers who teach students with moderate-to-severe developmental disabilities often lack…

A single subject multiple probe design across participants was used to examine the effects of distributing trials in shared stories on listening comprehension and skill acquisition with students with significant cognitive disability (SCD). The results suggest a functional relationship between the independent and each of the dependent variables. In…

The general education classroom is filled with academic vocabulary, and individuals with developmental disabilities benefit from explicit vocabulary instruction (Browder et al., 2008; Marzano, 2020; Smith et al., 2013). Picture-based alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) can encourage academic skills development (Ahlgrim-Dehzel et al.,…

Word problem solving skills include complex skills. Teaching word problem solving skills to students with disabilities is more difficult compared to their peers with typical development. Therefore, effective interventions need to be determined in order to teach these skills to students with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to analyze the…

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties with social play. They have some limitations in learning play skills and playing with peers. This study examines the effects of intervention, in an inclusive classroom, based on ecological assessment and conditions of social play selection on the engagement in social play of a…

Abstract: One of the interventions, of which effectiveness in the teaching of social skills has been examined in autism literature in recent years, is teaching with cool versus not cool. In this study, it was aimed to examine the effectiveness of teaching with cool versus not cool in the teaching of social skill ("Coping with inappropriate…

This study investigated perceptions of teachers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) on the importance of friendship development in comparison to other outcome priorities. Perceptions of teachers working in special classes were compared to those of teachers of mainstream classes. Friendship was rated of similar importance to social…

This study explored the characteristics of commonly used early literacy instruction designed by special education teachers for students with extensive support needs (ESN). The 15 special education teachers and 29 students were participants in a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of an early literacy intervention developed…

Now more than ever, students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are being taught in inclusive settings. Despite inclusion initiatives, research suggests students with ASD have limited social interactions with neurotypical peers and have significantly fewer high quality friendships compared to neurotypical peers. The purpose of this paper is…

There is a lack of research on effective interventions to improve the early numeracy skills of children with severe disabilities---autism spectrum disorder, developmental disability, and intellectual disability---and complex communication needs. While preliminary research suggests the Early Numeracy curriculum is effective for teaching children…

One of the distinct characteristics of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is significant delays in socialization. Students with ASD often struggle to develop meaningful social relationships with their peers. Learning appropriate socialization skills is a necessary first step that is often taught using a systematic, direct instruction…

In the current study, we employed a concurrent multiple probe across participants design to examine the effects of an intervention package (i.e., response prompting, frames, technology) on sentence writing for three participants, ages 10-12, with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Specifically, we taught participants to write…