Research Perspectives on Education for Students with Autism Disorders

A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102). This special issue belongs to the section "Special and Inclusive Education".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 13477

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, Kristianstad University, SE-Elmetorpsvägen 15, 291 39 Kristianstad, Sweden
Interests: special education; autism spectrum disorders; teachers’ professional development; lesson and learning studies
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, Kristianstad University, SE-Elmetorpsvägen 15, 291 39 Kristianstad, Sweden
Interests: teaching and learning; pedagogy and education; interpersonal relationships; professional development; learning disabilities

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, Kristianstad University, SE-Elmetorpsvägen 15, 291 39 Kristianstad, Sweden
Interests: professional development; learning; pedagogy and education; teaching and learning; pedagogy; curriculum development; teaching experience; collaborative learning; educational evaluation; teaching materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute with knowledge of how to enhance our understanding of teaching and learning for students with autism and/or developmental disorders. This Special Issue has a focus on classroom research, enhancing learning and education for students with autism and/or other developmental disorders, by the study of instruction both in inclusive and special schools. The invitation addresses both empirical and theoretical (review) papers, including a variety of theoretical frameworks and methodological designs. Focus is on education in pre-, primary and secondary school, as well as higher education. Papers on the implementation of, and testing different instructional designs, as well as tools to facilitate learning, are especially welcome.

Prof. Dr. Mona Holmqvist
Dr. Kamilla Klefbeck
Dr. Linda Petersson-Bloom
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • autism
  • developmental disabilities
  • learning disabilities
  • special education

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

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13 pages, 493 KiB  
Review
The Use of Professional Development to Enhance Education of Students with Autism: A Systematic Review
by Linda Petersson-Bloom, Emma Leifler and Mona Holmqvist
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13090966 - 21 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4822
Abstract
The study objective in this article was to present the state-of-the-art on teachers’ professional development to enhance educational quality for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in primary and secondary education. A systematic review was conducted, following the PRISMA guidelines. Quantitative, qualitative, and [...] Read more.
The study objective in this article was to present the state-of-the-art on teachers’ professional development to enhance educational quality for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in primary and secondary education. A systematic review was conducted, following the PRISMA guidelines. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies were eligible for inclusion. Fifteen studies were identified and summarized. To identify the eligibility criteria, we applied the SPIDER framework. Quality appraisal was applied using the MMAT. A thematic summary and narrative synthesis of the included studies was conducted to establish a comprehensive understanding of what makes a difference in preparation for teachers of autistic students. Two key factors were found regarding the design of professional development for teachers to enhance their skills to teach autistic students. Firstly, teachers’ developed autism-specific knowledge, and secondly, the need for practice-based training with a focus on the challenges teachers meet at their own schools. Multiple ways of addressing teachers’ need for professional development regarding autistic students may further contribute to inclusive values and actions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Perspectives on Education for Students with Autism Disorders)
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11 pages, 487 KiB  
Review
A Scoping Review of School-Based Strategies for Addressing Anxiety, Intolerance of Uncertainty and Prediction in Autistic Pupils
by Anne Emerson and Debra Costley
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(6), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13060575 - 2 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3141
Abstract
In a typical school day, young people need to do many tasks which rely on the ability to predict. Since prediction underpins cognitive and social skills, difficulties with prediction lead to multiple challenges to learning. In this review, we consider the evidence that [...] Read more.
In a typical school day, young people need to do many tasks which rely on the ability to predict. Since prediction underpins cognitive and social skills, difficulties with prediction lead to multiple challenges to learning. In this review, we consider the evidence that autistic people often have difficulty making predictions about other people’s behaviour, or understanding what they are required to do, contributing to high rates of anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty. The focus of the review is to consider what we already know about effective strategies used by schools to support learning and social inclusion and to consider how we might build on these approaches. We propose a number of so far unexplored ideas with the potential to build predictive skills and which require evaluation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Perspectives on Education for Students with Autism Disorders)
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Other

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13 pages, 1033 KiB  
Systematic Review
Academic Skills in Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Francesco Domenico Di Blasi, Angela Antonia Costanzo, Maria Finocchiaro, Maria Agatina Stimoli, Rosa Zuccarello, Serafino Buono, Raffaele Ferri and Pierluigi Zoccolotti
Educ. Sci. 2023, 13(10), 1026; https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci13101026 - 12 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4517
Abstract
Background: A substantial proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also have an intellectual disability (ID). However, the academic achievement levels of students with ASD and ID (ASD-ID) are poorly documented and known. Method: We systematically reviewed studies on school skills (reading, [...] Read more.
Background: A substantial proportion of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also have an intellectual disability (ID). However, the academic achievement levels of students with ASD and ID (ASD-ID) are poorly documented and known. Method: We systematically reviewed studies on school skills (reading, spelling, and math) in children and adolescents with ASD-ID. The search was conducted in seven bibliographic databases: Embase, Pubmed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, Ebscohost, Proquest, and Scopus until 28 May 2022. Results: We identified 33,750 reports, four of which met the inclusion criteria for the review. The studies, characterized by Level III evidence (non-randomized controlled trials), included 535 students, 266 in the ASD-ID group and 269 in the ASD-no ID group. A random-effects model meta-analysis revealed that students with ASD-ID had significantly lower reading, spelling, and math scores than students with ASD-no ID. The effect sizes associated with reading score differences were large, although with significant heterogeneity; similarly, the effect sizes associated with spelling and math score differences were also large, although to a lesser extent than for reading. Conclusions: The co-presence of ASD and ID is associated with significant deficits in reading, spelling, and math. However, the present meta-analytic results rest on a limited number of studies. This contrasts with the substantial proportion of children with ASD who have ID and highlights the need for further research to fill a significant gap regarding the profile of academic abilities of students with ASD-ID. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Perspectives on Education for Students with Autism Disorders)
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