The purpose of this study was to interview parents of children with severe or profound intellectual and developmental disabilities to determine the perceived value of support groups and identify recommendations for support group design based on their experiences and feedback. Despite varied experiences with support groups, most parents indicated…

Higher Education (HE) can be a complicated and isolating experience for neurodivergent students. Many systemic barriers and injustices create challenges for the accessibility and inclusivity of learning environments and curriculums. However, with the appropriate accommodations, staff guided by neurodiversity-affirming practices, accessible…

Background: Shared Lives (adult placement) is a model of community-based support where an adult who needs support and/or accommodation moves into or regularly visits the home of an approved Shared Lives carer. It is an established but small-scale service used mainly by adults with learning disabilities. However, little research has been conducted…

Purpose: This methodological study describes a technique for extracting information from deidentified electronic health records (EHRs) to identify occurrences of permanent unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and associated educational comorbidities. Method: This was an exploratory methodological study utilizing approximately 3.3 million de-identified…

Background: Understanding the cognitive processes of individuals with intellectual disabilities in financially abusive situations is critical to develop effective prevention strategies. Aims: This study investigated how persons with intellectual disabilities define and analyse financially abusive situations, and how they would feel and act in…

Service coordinators under Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) help families navigate the early intervention (EI) system and ensure regular communication among team members so services are aligned with family priorities and recommended EI practices. To meet the demands of service coordination, personnel entering…

Developmental difference is a common characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with unclear sex differences. The current study included 610 children with ASD, aged between 2 and 7 years, with completed language profiles. We used a nonparametric item response theory model called Mokken scale analysis to examine the order of acquisition of…

Fidget toys are recommended as "sensory" tools to improve the attention and performance of elementary students with autism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how fidget toys affected the visual attention and skill acquisition of elementary students with autism during storybook reading. Provision of fidget toys was compared with a…

To retrospectively explore the characteristics of plasma amino acids (PAAs) in children with autism spectrum disorder and their clinical association via case-control study. A total of 110 autistic and 55 healthy children were recruited from 2014 to 2018. The clinical phenotypes included severity of autism, cognition, adaptability, and regression.…

This study examined the validity of the Greek version of the Societal Attitudes Towards Autism (SATA) scale in a Greek community sample (n = 633) and explored how the demographic variables of the sample modulate knowledge and attitudes regarding people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The principal component analysis confirmed the…

In this series, we highlighted the importance of addressing the mental health needs of students with disabilities. The purpose of this final article in the series is to briefly summarize each article's recommendations for addressing children's mental health needs and to provide a compelling rationale for adopting those recommended practices. The…

Research on how adults react to receiving an autism diagnosis is focused on the United States or the United Kingdom context even though cultural differences might have an impact on these experiences. Few interventions for autistic adults exist, and when they do, they are often described as inappropriate. Our study aimed to explore the experiences…

Identification procedures for autism spectrum disorders in paediatric settings include screening and routine clinical surveillance. Screening tools are perceived as challenging, and a preference for direct observation has been reported in Ecuadorian paediatric settings. Augmentative observational procedures could prompt the application of…

Background: Adults with intellectual disabilities should participate in the diagnostics of their mental health. The Glasgow Depression Scale for people with a Learning Disability (GDS-LD) and its Carer Supplement (GDS-CS) were translated into German and tested. Methods: Internal consistency, criterion validity and inter-test reliability were…

The intake of students with autism is increasing in inclusive classrooms. Teacher preparedness in teaching these students is an essential requirement for effective education. Little is known about teachers' current educational experiences underpinning their preparedness in teaching autistic students. This study utilised semi-structured interviews…