Purpose: The purpose of this tutorial is to educate speech-language pathologists (SLPs) on the need for and positive outcomes associated with neurodiversity-affirming care. This primer will outline what neurodiversity is, why it is central to the provision of evidence-based practice and culturally responsive care, and introduce the reader to…

Background & aims: Although the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) has been demonstrated to be an effective intervention to teach people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder a functional communication system, the research indicates variability in PECS outcomes across people and studies. Therefore, the purpose of the current study…

Social competence is an essential skill that can be promoted in inclusive high school classrooms. For high school students with developmental disabilities, peer-mediated interventions have shown promise for increasing social communication with feasible implementation. This study focused on increasing the appropriate peer interactions of three high…

Dressing is an important skill for students with developmental disabilities, so they rely less on caregivers and build independence. Research evaluating dressing skills instruction commonly uses some type of graduated guidance to teach the skill. In this study, three students receiving special education services under autism eligibility had…

The present study aims to examine the effects of the MindfulTEA program, an Mindfulness-based Interventions (MBIs) specifically designed for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability, to reduce behavioural problems. MBIs are effective in improving well-being in people with high-functioning ASD, but little is known…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have trouble in the classroom when it comes to social interactions, changes in routine, disordered environments, and intense sensory stimulation. In this study a workshop was designed to assist special education teachers and school administration to manage challenging behaviors of students with…

The role of techniques involving Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been becoming increasingly important in educational settings. This study aims to reveal the recent trends in research into artificial intelligence in special education by using the systematic review method. Across the 29 studies published between 2008 and 2020 that are reviewed…

Autistic youth frequently experience interfering anxiety, and schools may be an ideal setting to deliver mental health care. A type 1 hybrid-effectiveness, cluster randomized trial was used to examine the effectiveness of school-based Facing Your Fears compared to usual care. Change in provider cognitive behavior therapy knowledge and treatment…

A diagnosis of autism typically depends on clinical assessments by highly trained professionals. This high resource demand poses a challenge in low-resource settings. Digital assessment of neurodevelopmental symptoms by non-specialists provides a potential avenue to address this challenge. This cross-sectional case-control field study establishes…

Issues with joint attention, especially avoiding eye contact with others, are considered one of the core defects found in the early stages of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study is the first to use pupil reflection technology, which can be used to present an image of the participants within the virtual character's eyes on the…

The main objective of this study was to explore the effectiveness of combining Balinese Gamelan music with sensorimotor rhythm intervention in improving brain wave synchronization and language processing abilities in autistic children. This study used a qualitative method with an ethnographic case study approach to explore how the integration of…

Higher education institutions in Japan are increasingly focused on supporting students with developmental disorders, but these individuals still face daunting challenges. Although research has demonstrated the positive effects of peer support on student socialization and academic performance, few studies have examined the perspectives or…

In this study, we evaluated three lessons from a manualized social play skills intervention, Play20. Play20 is a focused intervention that is designed to improve early social skill development in children with autism spectrum disorder through naturalistic play. First, we evaluated the procedural fidelity of instructor implementation of Play20, and…

This systematic review summarizes and analyzes the literature on sportsmanship interventions for individuals with autism. Electronic database searches (i.e., PsycNet, ERIC) and ancestral searches were conducted to find relevant articles. Twenty-eight studies were included in this study that used experimental designs that targeted sportsmanship…

The purpose of the current investigation is to analyze extant research examining the impact of play therapy on the development of language skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As rates of ASD diagnoses continue to increase, families and educators are faced with making critical decisions regarding the selection and…