“I Saw Things through a Different Lens…”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study of the Experiences of Autistic Teachers in the Irish Education System

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The work is very relevant and offers very useful information, especially with the central axis of interpretation and intervention, which is monotropism. Perhaps for further work we should look more deeply into Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, which is so aptly used in this research. It will also be necessary to find ways that help to mitigate, I would say, both in teachers and students with autism, the BIMS:

BURNOUT: exhaustion, burnout.

INERTIA: inertia, apathy, inactivity.

MELTDOWN: meltdown, crisis, collapse, collapse.

SHUTDOWN: closure, shutdown, shutdown, disconnection. It is a work of high research value and I congratulate the authors.

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Many thanks for reading our manuscript and for your thoughtful comments. We have addressed them as follows and you can see the changes highlighted in the attached draft.

                               Comment                                                                            Revision details

Rev 2	For further work we should look more deeply into Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, which is so aptly used in this research	Additional sections developing the use of Bronfenbrenners theory has been added to the methodology section (lines 183-187) and to the Findings section (lines 300-302)
Rev 2	. It will also be necessary to find ways that help to mitigate, I would say, both in teachers and students with autism, the BIMS:	Further information regarding BIMS has been added to the introduction section (lines 119-130) and to the conclusion section (lines 540 – 546)

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Thanks for the opportunity to review education-2380470 "I saw things through a different lens…": An Interpretative Phenomenological Study of the Experiences of Autistic Teachers in the Irish Education System. This manuscript discussed the perception of Irish Autistic teachers' perceptions and their experience in interacting with schools and colleges. Given the quality and significance of the manuscript, I recommend accepting this manuscript. 

 

Intro

This manuscript reviewed relevant literature that supports the rationale of this study. As written, this manuscript intends to investigate the perceptions of Irish autistic teachers of themselves and their colleagues and students. The authors used the theoretical framework of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory, which best supports this manuscript's argument. In addition, the authors. The introduction and literature review must provide a theoretical or conceptual framework to explore these issues, and this manuscript well supported the framework. 

 

Given the literature review, this manuscript fills the gap in the research because there is little research on training at ITE and postgraduate and in CPD. 

 

In addition, the findings seem to be generalizable not only to Irish autistic teachers but also to the international community. This manuscript makes a significant contribution to the existing research internationally.

 

Method 

 

IPA is an appropriate method to answer the research questions of this study. Specific data collection and analysis details and visuals help readers replicate the method sections. 

 

Community involvement statements confirm that the authors carefully reflect multiple perspectives of autistic teachers and researchers to understand them better. 

 

Results & Discussion

 

The results and discussion section did well in sharing the findings and connecting with the framework. The figures in the section help readers understand the themes from the findings. 

 

The authors well contextualized the study into the related literature. 

 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Many thanks for reading our article and for your generous comments. We attached a lightly revised, updated manuscript for your perusal. 

Kind regards

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Please see the attachment

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

Many thanks for reading our manuscript and for your helpful comments. We have revised out manuscript to address your suggestions and outline the changes in the below table. You can see the changes highlighted in the attached document. 

Review                                  Comment                                                                            Revision details

Rev 3	It was very pertinent to use the bio ecological model, however, more explicit, and direct linkages could be made to the model throughout the manuscript. For example, methodology, results, interpretation.	Inclusion of details regarding use of Ecological systems theory in methodology section (lines 183-187). Addressed in Findings section in lines 300-302
Rev 3	Themes that were reviewed in the literature were interesting, but you must tell us why those particular themes were chosen to review as a preamble to the research.	Additional information regarding BIMS included in Introduction between lines 119 – 130. We believe the other themes provide a clear rationale for the need to discuss them during the Lit review (Autism, Disclosure in work setting, social interaction and environment). There is no literature regarding Autistic teachers in the Irish education system, unfortunately (Which adds to the importance of the current paper).
Rev 3	The conclusion could be further developed with ‘do-able’ recommendations for policy practice and better experiences for autistic teachers.	This has been addressed in the conclusion section between lines 540 and 546

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx