This preliminary study aimed to examine improvement in eye contact among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) following an innovative technological intervention integrated with meta-cognitive guidance. Eighteen ASD participants, ages 5-9 years, were divided into two equal intervention groups--one received metacognitive guidance, and one…

High school students are currently transitioning out of an autism program at the author's school, without functional life skills. This impacts their ability to live independently and reduces their employment opportunities. Life skills are "skills or tasks that contribute to the successful, independent functioning of an individual in…

The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry was to explore how students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tell stories about experiences transitioning into the collegiate environment in Nebraska. The problem addressed in this study was that students with ASD often do not have the available needed resources needed to successfully transition…

Students with autism need social skills to succeed academically, which can be fostered with the use of digital social stories (DSSs). While many special educators are expected to use DSSs to teach social skills because of increased elementary autism diagnoses, a significant number of DSS users are unprepared. The problem addressed in this…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication and interaction deficits, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors. Previous research has examined the role that social deficits play on the development of daily living skills in children with ASD. However, there is a lack of research on…

Caregiver involvement plays a critical role in the development of communication in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual/developmental disability (IDD). However, culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) families usually do not receive sufficient culturally and linguistically appropriate support due to language and…

We designed and distributed a survey that assessed safety concerns experienced by direct service providers (DSPs) (N = 59) of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in community-based group homes at a single human services organization. Results indicated relatively few safety concerns among the respondents from a list of 25…

This study evaluated the use of an interrupted chain procedure to establish spontaneous mands (i.e., requests) in three preschool aged children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. All three participants attended a university based preschool center, which used the methodology of Applied Behavior Analysis. Additionally, all three…

Executive functioning (EF) deficits, such as challenges with planning, organization, and materials management, negatively impact academic performance, particularly for middle-school students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without intellectual disability (ID). The aim was to assess the initial efficacy of the school-based version of the…

The current study examined the convergent validity between the standardized PEAK Comprehensive Assessment (PCA) and the semi-standardized PEAK Pre-assessment (PEAK-PA). Twenty-two participants were administered each tool, and an item by item analysis was conducted to evaluate correlations between tests. The results suggested a strong positive…

This review aimed to understand the dimensions of self-stigma that are unique to the families of persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the conditions in which self-stigma in families of persons with ASD arises. We reviewed the self-stigma dimensions in families of persons with ASD. Seventeen studies met our inclusion criteria and…

Lag schedules increase operant variability. Several researchers have explored their clinical and educational applications, especially to address repetitive behavior or limited repertoires in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. In the current study, we provide the first comprehensive synthesis and appraisal of lag schedule research in…

Although applications (apps) for technology-based self-monitoring have received little attention in the literature for college-level students with intellectual disability (ID) in inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs at institutions of higher education, novel tools regularly arrive and are applied within current support structures.…

As early identification of autism improves, there is a critical need for interventions to support the development of social communication skills in toddlers. Caregiver coaching and parental involvement is crucial for improving outcomes and providing children with adequate hours of planned active engagement. This pilot study assessed a 4-week…

Barriers to healthcare experienced by Australian autistic adults have not been previously explored. We conducted a cross-sectional investigation of barriers to healthcare and associated factors from a subtle realism perspective. Perceived barriers to healthcare were obtained from the Barriers to Healthcare Checklist Short-Form (BHC). A total of…