Research suggests a relationship between anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder. The aim of the current study was to examine social attention in anorexia nervosa and autism spectrum disorder compared with age- and sex-matched typically developing groups, and to examine whether lowered social motivation could explain reductions in social…

It is common for children with autism spectrum disorder to experience feeding problems that develop at an early age and include picky eating, food refusal, and rapid eating. This can lead to medical complications such as gastrointestinal issues or nutritional deficiencies. Feeding problems in children with autism can result in social-emotional…

Seventy-eight primary school teachers completed an online questionnaire comprised of demographic questions and a standardised measure of attitudes towards inclusion. It was found that the teachers who completed the questionnaire had predominantly negative or neutral attitudes towards the inclusion of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore caregiver and family quality of life in families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To better understand the experience of caregivers and families of children with ASD, a family systems perspective using constructs from a psychosocial adjustment model of disability (i.e., role impact…

Over the years, the Hispanic immigrant population in the United States has increased, impacting the education system with higher enrollments. Significant research has reported a high prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in children of immigrant parents (Schmengler et al., 2021). ASD originates in…

This single-case experimental design study examined the effects of virtual training and coaching on behavior technician implementation of a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention focused on imitation, Reciprocal Imitation Teaching (RIT), with young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Four behavior technicians were trained and…

At a young age, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit restrictive/repetitive or stereotypical behaviors that hinder their participation in the general community. The play activities of children with ASD often lack creativity, diversity, and flexibility due to deficits in social and communication abilities. Play activities for…

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who have limited spoken communication skills are commonly taught to mand by exchanging picture symbols. Competent manding via symbol exchange relies on conditional discrimination--that is, selecting the picture symbol that corresponds to the desired reinforcer. Picture Exchange Communication System…

Though there are a number of practices identified by researchers and other professionals as inclusive, the question remains about whether the students themselves truly "feel" included. There has been limited research surrounding specific experiences in inclusive classrooms that students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perceive to be…

Visual art is an enriching part of educational curriculum and an individual's development (Malley & Silverstein, 2014), but public school curriculum is increasingly focusing on standardization, core subject curriculum, testing, and accountability measures leaving creative fields behind as merely an additive part of education or a resource…

Evidence-based practice (EBP) requires professionals to be guided by the best available evidence. When a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), caregivers are faced with the task of choosing the best treatment for their child. Caregivers turn to a number of different sources to find information about available treatments not all…

Introduction: Mental health concerns have been noted to be highly prevalent for youth with intellectual disability (ID), with or without autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The purpose of the current study was to examine a Canadian sample of youth with ID, with or without ASD, to explore caregiver-reported percentages, predictors, and treatment…

Family-school engagement is integral to the success of students with autism. However, limited research has examined the conceptualization of family-school engagement from the perspective of parents of children with autism. With this in mind, we conducted focus groups with 22 parents of school-age children (ages 3-21) with autism from a…

Background: Children with syntactic impairment associated with autism spectrum disorder and developmental language disorder benefit from speech and language therapy intervention. Despite that, few studies focus on the clinical practice of the speech and language therapist (SLT). Aim: The aim of the study is to explore the clinical practice of SLTs…

The quality of life of autistic children and their parents is impacted by the stress they experience, their coping strategies and the availability of professional health, social and educational support services. Recent changes in the structural organisation of child disability professional supports in Ireland mean that in-depth knowledge about…