Playing is not just fun for kids; it’s an important part of early development. As children mature, they progress from playing alone, to playing beside others, to actually interacting and playing with peers. Many children with autism, however, do not make the same progression or make it more slowly. They may line up toys or…
Researchers Sam Odom, Ph.D., director, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute and Connie Wong, Ph.D., postdoctoral research fellow, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Purpose To objectively evaluate a current center-based model of intervention so that families and professionals have access to practical information to make more fully informed choices in the education of young…
Employment is a huge part of the transition to adulthood. For people with ASD and other disabilities, finding appropriate employment can be particularly challenging. This study from September’s issue of Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities highlights a possible technique for helping individuals with autism become independent at work. Researcher’s used covert audio coaching,…
Each month OAR will review a study and summarize why the information is useful for you as a parent or member of the autism community. Have you ever noticed how your behavior affects your child with ASD? Ever wonder if parenting stress is more related to problem behaviors or if problem behaviors are more related…
A professor in the Division of Applied Research and Educational Support at the University of South Florida, Glen Dunlap, Ph.D. works on research, training, and demonstration projects in the areas of positive behavior support, early intervention, and family support. Currently a member of OAR’s Scientific Council, he has been involved with individuals with disabilities for…
A good night’s sleep refreshes us physically and emotionally. Who hasn’t woken up after a night of deep sleep, feeling like a new person? Even more critical for children, a good night’s sleep is often an elusive goal for many children with autism. More than half of parents of children with autism report a sleep…
Foxx and Garito present a data-based case study on the reduction of a variety of significantly challenging behaviors in a 12-year-old boy with a previously established autism diagnosis. “Ned,” a Romanian orphan, was adopted at the age of 2 and subsequently diagnosed with autism (and ADHD) one year later. At the time of the investigation,…
Noting that children with autism may display atypical or even fearful responses to common stimuli such as skin care products (often with a negative impact on adaptive functioning), Ellis and colleagues investigated the use of a treatment package including graduated exposure, modeling, and social attention on the fearful responses of two learners with autism. The…
Dr. Malow is an associate professor of neurology at Vanderbilt University and director of the Vanderbilt Sleep Disorders Center. She is currently conducting research in this area supported in part by an OAR grant awarded in 2006. Prior to joining the faculty at Vanderbilt, Malow was a tenured associate professor of neurology at the University…
Despite reports that outcome in individuals with autism spectrum disorders may be improving following early intensive interventions, we still have much to learn about the natural history of the disorders and the effects of intervention. While there may not yet be a known cure for autism, a number of viable (although not always easily accessible…
