Traditionally, OAR publishes summaries of the applied research grants for which it has provided funding, one each month. However, this month, we are featuring a graduate study grant. In 2011, OAR awarded nine graduate awards, offering each student researcher grants of $1,000 or $2,000. This study is unusual both because it is the first grant…
Repetitive behavior is a trademark characteristic of autism. This behavior can range from odd and harmless, such as hand flapping, to self-injurious and harmful. In Effects of a Family-Implemented Treatment on the Repetitive Behaviors of Children with Autism, researchers lead by Brian A. Boyd, Ph.D.at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill investigated a…
Imitation is an essential part of learning communication and social skills. Deficits in this important milestone often signal a developmental delay. Some individuals with autism, especially those with intellectual delays, have poor imitation skills. Children with poor imitation skills need direct, explicit instruction to master skills that other children simply learn through imitation. A group…
Dr. Thomas Zane is a professor of education and director of the Applied Behavior Analysis Online Program at the Van Loan Graduate School of Endicott College. He is a licensed psychologist in New York and Massachusetts. Dr. Zane has published in various journals and books, presented at regional, national, and international conferences, and been an…
Jamie Pagliaro is executive vice president and co-creator of Rethink Autism, an award-winning educational technology company headquartered in New York City. He has spent the past 15 years working in programs for individuals with autism and related disorders. Prior to Rethink Autism, Jamie was executive director of the New York Center for Autism Charter School,…
A 2010 journal article highlighted a research study that supports the underlying importance of manner and attitude by medical professionals. The study, “A Strength-Based Approach to Parent Education for Children With Autism” by Amanda Mossman Steiner, PhD, from the Yale Child Study Center, reminds professionals how important their demeanor can be while working with families.…
As every parent and teacher knows, independence is one key to success for all children, including those with autism. At Georgia State University, researchers examined the use of self-operated auditory prompting systems (SOAPs) to increase independence in the self-care tasks of elementary school students. SOAPs are any device that delivers audio prompts, the most common…
Sara Baillie is a certified special education teacher and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She has been working with people with autism in a variety of settings in the Chicagoland area over the past seven years, including schools, home, hospitals, and recreation groups. She is currently working towards her doctoral degree in special education…
Ernst O. VanBergeijk, PhD, MSW, is the associate dean and executive director of New York Institute of Technology Vocational Independence Program (V.I.P.). Prior to joining V.I.P., Dr. VanBergeijk was an assistant professor at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, where he served as chairman of the college’s local institutional review board and as a…
Teaching any child safety skills is essential; but it is especially important for those with disabilities. Unfortunately, people and children with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse. While studies exist that examine safety skill interventions for individuals with intellectual disabilities, few studies address the use of these interventions with children who have autism. In a…
