Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with varied skill profiles and levels of severity making development and implementation of specialized school services challenging. Research indicates that school professionals require and desire additional ASD-specific professional development, both at the pre-and in-service levels.…

The objective of this study was to investigate a system of training designed by a Local Education Authority support service to promote interactive skill building with children on the autism spectrum. Using a case study approach, the study focused thematically upon outcomes for children, perceptions of schools regarding impact of the training…

The study was designed to collect and document both quantitative and qualitative data based on instructional services provided to students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study examined the types of professional development and training provided to teachers of students with ASD and gathered the perspectives of local education agency…

The relationship between preferred objects associated with stereotypy, stereotypic behavior, and accuracy of responding during a counting task by a child with autism was analyzed. Teaching with high-preference objects occasioned more stereotypic behavior and less accurate counting than teaching with medium- and low-preference objects. (Author/DB)

Results indicated that the auditory stimuli intervention was effective in reducing vocal stereotypes of one autistic S across all activities and for the second subject, in two activities. Social validity measures confirmed the effects of the intervention, the importance of decreasing the behavior, and that the intervention itself was not…

Changing criterion methodology was used to increase the performance rate on a vocational task by an autistic young adult in a model case demonstration. Performance rate was increased by a factor of six and maintained at eight-month follow-up. (DB)

Using an ABAB design, two procedures for requesting a change of activity were compared for their effect on the stereotypic behavior of a man with autism. One procedure requested immediate change of activities, whereas the second procedure gave advance notice of a change. Less stereotypy occurred when advance notice of change was given. (Author/DB)

Results of a "loose training" prompting tactic to teach an autistic 11-year-old boy to initiate interactions with his peers resulted in increased spontaneous interactions (1) with training peers in nontraining, generalization sessions and (2) with nontraining peers in generalization sessions. (Author/DB)

The study compared the efficacy and setting generalization of sensory extinction and overcorrection in suppressing self-stimulation in two autistic children (ages 7- and 12-years-old). Results indicated that sensory extinction significantly decreased self stimulation in the structured setting but did not generalize to other settings.…

This study, with a young autistic child and a young adult with profound mental retardation, demonstrated the effectiveness of a gradual, changing criterion process of stimulus shaping in training subjects to independently perform tasks with relatively high task requirements. (DB)

Through training, a 14-year-old Swedish boy with autism was able to develop alternative and augmentative communication routes for social communication. After difficulties in using manual signs, the boy was introduced to Blissymbols, which developed his ability to communicate and his interest in written words. Although still autistic and…

The effectiveness of verbal, sign, and simultaneous systems for the acquisition of receptive language by an autistic boy was investigated. Results suggest nonsignificant differences among the three methods. (Author/SEW)

This study effectively eliminated face-slapping behavior in a 10-year-old boy with severe developmental disability and autistic characteristics. The subject wore wrist weights for up to 30 minutes each day. Face slapping did not occur during a follow-up check conducted five months after study completion. (Author/DB)

Described is the cognitive-developmental training of 19 mute autistic children, mean age 11 years, with special language signs and connected boards elevated 3 to 6 feet above the ground to promote awareness of body in relation to surrounding objects. (MC)