This qualitative study included eight special education teachers all of whom work in self-contained classroom environments for student with autism. The study was conducted in two public elementary schools within one suburban school district. During data analysis five major themes identified as being important in gaining perspective into the…

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to examine racial differences in parental beliefs and concern about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus clinical judgment. The sample included 489 children with ASD undergoing their first ASD evaluation. Parent belief that their child had ASD was highest among parents of White children. White children…

Social-communication deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder often lead to undesirable outcomes in other domains, such as interpersonal relationships, employment, and participation in community activities. Parents may be ideal implementers of interventions to address these deficits when provided with instruction that is efficacious and…

Early studies evaluating the relative preference for leisure compared with edible items suggested that, for most participants (>80%), edible items are more preferred than leisure items. Recent studies suggest more variability in the percentage of participants with this preference. The rationale for this variability could be sampling, setting,…

There is a lack of research and program development in the area of sexuality education for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The prevalence of ASD is on the rise, and research demonstrates that individuals with ASD desire romantic and sexual relationships. It is important that programming targeting sexuality education for individuals with…

This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Transitional Study 2 to examine relationships between expectations about college education and enrollment patterns among students on the autism spectrum. Results reveal that although more than half of the students reported that they were likely to attend college, among their Individualized…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can affect a person's ability to manage the complexities of varied social and environmental situations. This is particularly evident in the dynamic context of a school classroom. To assist students with ASD to navigate the complexities of Australian primary and secondary…

This study aimed to examine the effect of mother's perception of child's maladaptive behaviour and types of child's neurodevelopment disorder on maternal parenting stress, and examine the role of types of child's neurodevelopmental disorder in moderating the relationship between mother' perception of child's maladaptive behaviours and maternal…

For centuries we have been using food for our well-being and health maintenance. As far back as Hippocrates (known as the father of medicine), food has been a center stone used as the good or suffering of humanity. The Bible references food and fasting, cleansing and revitalization to heal the spirit. Before the scientific discovery of synthetic…

I surveyed students, directors, and staff at 2-year and 4-year postsecondary institutions known to have a social support program (SSP) for students with ASD. This study sought to learn how students, directors, and staff described why students decided to attend their institution and the SSP. It also examined the advantages, disadvantages,…

The purpose of this study was to identify the ways existing autism support programs at postsecondary institutions are meeting the needs of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and how these programs aid in student persistence toward degree completion at one 2-year public institution, one 4-year public institution, and one 4-year private…

Limited research exists on special education teachers (SETs) of students with intellectual disability (ID), developmental delay (DD), and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), their intent to leave or stay in the teaching profession, and the working conditions impacting those decisions. Through an online survey, we investigated working conditions of…

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasingly prevalent, intervention costs are high, and long-term outcomes are poor. Proactive implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs; Steinbrenner et al., Evidence-Based Practices for Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Autism, 2020) through an assessment or planning process can lead to more…

Autistic students are increasingly enrolling in postsecondary institutions. While studies examining faculty-student relations is rising, there are few to no studies looking at how these relations may impact academic self-concept for autistic youth. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate autistic college students' academic self-concept…

Literature on effects of equine therapy in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has grown in recent times. Equine therapy is an alternative multimodal intervention that involves utilizing a horse to remediate core impairments in ASD. Recent systematic reviews in this area have several limitations including inclusion of populations other…