Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with difficulties in writing performance. Despite the importance of writing to achieving positive academic, employment, and social outcomes, relatively little research has been conducted examining the effects of intervention on the writing performance of individuals with ASD. Previous…

Although research confirms the effectiveness of training to improve law enforcement officers' (LEOs) awareness and knowledge of people with intellectual disability and learning disabilities, review of the efficacy of autism-specific law enforcement training is needed. To provide up-to-date information regarding training for LEOs related to autism…

Parent-mediated interventions (PMIs) are commonly used with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and their effectiveness for young children has been documented. However, no reviews have examined the use of PMIs with older children with ASD. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to investigate the state of the literature regarding PMIs…

We conducted a meta-analysis of single-case research design (SCRD) studies on functional communication training (FCT). First, we used the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Standards to evaluate each study. Next, we calculated effect sizes using Tau-U. Then, we aggregated the effect sizes across the studies to produce an omnibus effect size. Results…

Video modeling (VM) interventions have increasingly been examined as a means of teaching social communication skills to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the research, which primarily used single-case research designs (SCRDs), pointed to inconsistent results across participants within studies and across studies. The purpose…

Peer-mediated instruction and intervention (PMII) is a systematic, evidence-based method for addressing the social-communication needs of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite existing research on this practice, gaps remain in the implementation of PMII. The purpose of this empirical review was to examine recent applications of…

The number of secondary-level students with high-functioning autism (HFA) served in public school settings has increased in recent years, and many of these students have difficulty with social-behavioral expectations in such settings. Instructional specialists must know which interventions have been shown to be effective, so they can make informed…

Despite growing knowledge of the effectiveness of various interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it is never clear whether a particular intervention will be effective for a specific child with ASD. Careful monitoring of an individual child's progress is necessary to know whether an intervention is effective. In this…

Although legislation mandates that students with autism receive instruction linked to the general education core content, there is limited research supporting the effectiveness of interventions for teaching core content to these students. In this study, the author reviewed research conducted between the years 1997 and 2008 using computer-assisted…

In this continuation of a discussion of intervention options for educating and treating children with autism, this article discusses court decisions related to intervention options, along with recommendations for choosing interventions and treatments that have the best chance of producing desired outcomes and resolving disputes among professionals…

This article provides instruction for caregivers on managing and monitoring psychotropic medication for individuals with autism. Includes 20 questions for caregivers to ask about psychotropic medication, 12 guidelines for caregivers to follow when giving medications, and specific examples of data collection methods to measure the effect of…

A survey involving 53 parents of children (mean age 5.3) with mental disabilities asked parents to rate various aspects of special education and related services. Results found parents were more concerned about development of skills in key areas than holistic skills development and were satisfied with current student placement. (CR)

This article summarizes findings from the Macomb Project's 15 years of research and provision of model demonstration computer application services to young children with disabilities, their families, and service delivery staff. Staff training, administrative support, technology assessments, family involvement, and transition services are all…