Fidget toys are recommended as "sensory" tools to improve the attention and performance of elementary students with autism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how fidget toys affected the visual attention and skill acquisition of elementary students with autism during storybook reading. Provision of fidget toys was compared with a…

Adaptive behaviour is crucial for well-being and independence. The Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS-3) is often used to plan individualised support in specialist educational settings, drawing on both teacher and parent informants. In practice, however, little is known about the extent of variation between informants. We examined…

As every Montessorian knows, Dr. Montessori's pedagogy evolved through her work with "phrenasthenic," or disabled and neurodivergent, children in Rome (Trabalzini, 2011). This historical knowledge may lead to the assumption that Montessori education epitomizes inclusive education--that Montessori is indeed education for all children,…

Objective: Children diagnosed with cerebral palsy have been reported to be at increased risk of executive function deficits and neurodevelopmental disorders. This population-based cohort study aimed to assess executive function, attention, behaviour, and autism symptomatology in school-aged children with CP, using parent-report measures that can…

This dissertation examines the integration of behavior analytical procedures into teaching performing arts dance skills to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), mainly the innovative use of song-lyrics self-instruction. Individuals with ASD often face unique challenges, including social communication delays, limited play interests, and…

Discrete trial teaching (DTT) is a common teaching methodology used within intervention for autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Practice recommendations related to using DTT for receptive language instruction includes the desired size of the array of stimuli to be presented. Some recommendations include ensuring…

School can be challenging for autistic girls who are at risk of internalised anxiety which can ultimately lead to school avoidance. Low attendance is acknowledged as negatively impacting educational attainment and exacerbating mental health difficulties. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three autistic girls aged 13-15 years from…

There is limited literature on the association between parenting practices, parenting stress and externalising behaviours in autistic children. We investigated whether parenting practices mediate the association between parenting stress and externalising behaviours. Parents of school-aged autistic children (n = 138) completed an online survey on…

Autistic students demonstrate poor academic performance which may be related to challenges in learning behaviors such as organization, planning, study skills, and so forth. Most studies report on summary scores; however, there may be value in understanding specific strengths and challenges to better inform assessment and intervention efforts. The…

Problem-solving is a skill of fundamental importance for populations with developmental delays, and especially for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Training students with ASD to solve ill-defined problems is a challenging objective for educational and therapeutic teams. This is due to the myriad of unpredictable situations presented…

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require long-term interventions with professional tutors. In this paper, we explore the design space of virtual tutors in digital learning systems that may facilitate effective ASD interventions. We conducted a classroom observational study to examine how children with ASD learn and interact with…

The problem is that the recruitment and retention of special education teachers in autistic units represents a challenge nationwide, especially with the steady increase of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The current efforts and strategies to address the public school system's shortage of qualified special education teachers have…

School psychologists can promote inclusion and support students with autism and their caregivers using effective consultation and collaboration practices. This article reviews some themes from recent articles in a special issue of "Journal of Educational and Behavioral Consultation" entitled, "Consultation and Collaboration to…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have trouble in the classroom when it comes to social interactions, changes in routine, disordered environments, and intense sensory stimulation. In this study a workshop was designed to assist special education teachers and school administration to manage challenging behaviors of students with…

This study used video feedback in a collaborative development study to help improve teachers' perceptions of the learning needs of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) and enhance their active participation in the classroom. Crucially, teachers need the necessary skills to discern students' subtle…