This book reports on the use of behavioural support -- an evidence-based approach developed in the USA to meet students' special educational needs -- in Australia and selected thriving Asian countries. It brings together key issues and insights into how educational policy and practices in different societies and cultures influence the uptake of…

Training parents of children with autism spectrum disorder can be a challenge due to limited resources, time, and money. Interactive computerized training (ICT)--a self-paced program that incorporates instructions, videos, and interactive questions--is one method professionals can use to disseminate trainings to broader populations. This study…

Purpose: This study tested whether behavioral mimicry can alter drinking behavior. It was hypothesized that participants would increase drinking behaviors given increased confederate drinking but not cup touching. Methods: Nineteen healthy adults (M[subscript age] = 20.32 years) completed 2 picture description tasks; during 1 task, a confederate…

There has been growing interest in the field of education regarding the use of technology in classrooms to improve student outcomes. Specifically, researchers have demonstrated positive outcomes for using mobile technology with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Fewer studies have used mobile technology with students with emotional and…

Modified cognitive-behavioral therapy (MCBT) has been demonstrated to reduce anxiety in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, non-response rates are fairly high. Few studies have investigated factors associated with response. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is a treatment target for anxiety and worry in neurotypical populations and…

In this study we evaluated a social skills group which employed a progressive applied behavior analysis model for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. A randomized control trial was utilized; eight participants were randomly assigned to a treatment group and seven participants were randomly assigned to a waitlist control group. The…

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an intervention-based, character education program that is being implemented in many schools nation-wide. It is important to know the extent to which PBIS reflects the principles of an effective character education program because PBIS is a widely used behavior modification character education…

There is a growing trend of using paraprofessionals to augment the education of students with disabilities. Paraprofessionals are often the least educated and trained member in a classroom, yet can be asked to provide assistance to students with complex needs. Students with disabilities require the use of practices that are grounded in scientific…

Academic engagement has been shown to decline as students progress through elementary and middle school, reaching the lowest levels in high school. Increasing student engagement has been an explicit goal of many school and district improvement efforts, especially at the high school level. As the capabilities of portable technology continue to…

Paraprofessionals are critical school staff often responsible for students with or at risk for academic, behavioral, and social impairments. However, research on paraprofessional roles, professional development, and training needs is very limited. The present mixed-method study seeks to fill this gap by examining the student populations served,…

This study identified patterns of therapist delivery of evidence-based intervention strategies with children with autism spectrum disorder within publicly funded mental health services and compared patterns for therapists delivering usual care to those trained in AIM HI ("An Individualized Mental Health Intervention for ASD"). Data were…

Objective: Social and academic functioning are linked in elementary school, and both are frequently impaired in children with elevated symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study evaluated the Making Socially Accepting Inclusive Classrooms (MOSAIC) program, a classroom intervention to support children's social and…

Paraprofessionals are critical school staff often responsible for students with or at risk for academic, behavioral, and social impairments. However, research on paraprofessional roles, professional development, and training needs is very limited. The present mixed-method study seeks to fill this gap by examining the student populations served,…

Efficient and effective training strategies for paraprofessionals in special education settings face many challenges. Interactive computerized training (ICT)--a self-paced program that incorporates audio narration, video models, interactive activities, and competency checks--is one potential solution. ICT has been successful in training college…

Preschoolers with elevated anxiety symptoms are at high risk not only of developing more severe mental health disorders in later life but are also apt to respond more poorly to intervention if they present with comorbid disruptive behavior. Because early signs of anxiety disorders may not be recognized as such in preschool settings, many children…