Victoria F. Knight

Erratum to: A Review of Technology-Based Interventions to Teach Academic Skills to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted for articles published between 1993 and 2012 to determine the degree to which technology-based interventions can be considered an evidence-based practice to teach academic skills to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Criteria developed by Horner et al. (Except Child 71:165–178, 2005) and Gersten et al. (Except Child 71:149–164, 2005) were used to determine the quality of single-subject research studies and group experimental research studies respectively. A total of 25 studies met inclusion criteria. Of these studies, only three single-subject studies and no group studies met criteria for quality or acceptable studies. Taken together, the results suggest that practitioners should use caution when teaching academic skills to individuals with ASD using technology-based interventions. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

Talking Picture Schedules: Embedding Video Models into Visual Activity Schedules to Increase Independence for Students with ASD

Studies examining video modeling and visual activity schedules independent of one another have been shown to be effective in teaching skills for students with autism, but there is little research about the effectiveness of combining the two methods. Use of visual activity schedules with embedded video models via an iPad application was investigated to determine if high school students with autism could transition within and between novel activities (e.g., writing paragraphs, setting a table, data entry) using a multiple probe across participants design. Findings indicate youth with autism were able to independently transition within and between tasks. Students exhibited high rates of generalization to the static visual activity schedules and novel task exemplars after the embedded video model was removed.

Using a Simultaneous Prompting Procedure with an iPad to Teach the Pythagorean Theorem to Adolescents with Moderate Intellectual Disability

Providing standards-based instruction in core content areas for individuals with moderate and severe disabilities is a hot topic in the field of special education, and teachers struggle to find the best methods for providing high-quality standards-based instruction in core content areas that also has personal relevance for the students. This investigation evaluated the effectiveness of a simultaneous prompting procedure to teach four adolescents with moderate intellectual disabilities to use the Pythagorean theorem to solve real-life scenarios (i.e., sewing, using a ladder, finding dimensions of a screen) shown on a short video on an iPad. A multiple probe design across participants evaluated the effectiveness of the procedure. Results indicate the participants acquired the skill of using the Pythagorean theorem and generalized it to additional real-life, novel problems. Social validity, limitations, and implications for practitioners are also discussed.

A Comprehensive Literature Review of Comprehension Strategies in Core Content Areas for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Understanding text can increase access to educational, vocational, and recreational activities for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, limited research has been conducted investigating instructional practices to remediate or compensate for these comprehension challenges. The current comprehensive literature review expanded previous reviews and evaluated research quality using Reichow (Evidence-based practices and treatments for children with autism, pp 25–39. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-6975-0_2, 2011) criteria for identifying evidence-based practices. Three questions guided the review: (a) Which approaches to comprehension instruction have been investigated for students with ASD?; (b) Have there been a sufficient number of acceptable studies using a particular strategy to qualify as an evidence-based practice for teaching comprehension across the content areas?; and (c) What can educators learn from the analysis of high quality studies? Of the 23 studies included in the review, only 13 achieved high or adequate ratings. Results of the review suggest that both response-prompting procedures (e.g., model-lead-test, time delay, system of least prompts,) and visual supports (e.g., procedural facilitators) can increase comprehension skills in content areas of ELA, math, and science. Authors conclude with a discussion of (a) research-based examples of how to use effective approaches, (b) implications for practitioners, and (c) limitations and future research.

An Exploratory Study Using Science eTexts With Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Supported electronic text (eText), or text altered to provide support, may promote comprehension of science content for students with disabilities. According to the Center for Applied Special Technology, Book Builder™ uses supported eText to promote reading for meaning for all students. Students with autism spectrum disorder experience difficulty comprehending science content because of the extensive amount of background knowledge required in conjunction with difficulties understanding abstract and figurative language. Investigations on the most effective methods for reading comprehension and teaching science to this population are equally limited. In this pilot study, feasibility was supported in high levels of treatment fidelity and teacher- and student-reported satisfaction. A multiple probe across participants with an embedded ABCD design was used to evaluate various modifications of Book Builder™ on measures of vocabulary, literal comprehension, and application questions. Considerations for students with ASD, limitations, and recommendations for future research conclude the article.

Examination of the Evidence Base for Using Visual Activity Schedules With Students With Intellectual Disability

We conducted a comprehensive review of the literature to establish the evidence base for using visual activity schedules (VAS) with individuals with intellectual disability. Literature published after 2005 was evaluated for quality using the criteria developed by Horner et al.; a total of 14 studies were included as acceptable. Findings suggest that VAS is an evidence-based practice for teaching a variety of daily living, navigation, vocational, recreation, and academic skills to adolescents and adults with intellectual disability. Results also show increases in independence and on-task behaviors. We conclude the article by discussing limitations and recommendations for future research.

Establishing the State of Affairs for Evidence-Based Practices in Students With Severe Disabilities

The use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) was mandated with the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), and continues with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Accordingly, all children, including those with severe disabilities, must be taught both daily living and academic skills using EBPs. In this article, we synthesize, report, and establish the state of affairs for teaching EBPs to students with severe disabilities; examine established practices and considerations for the future of EBPs; and describe the relevance of the EBP movement to advocacy and intervention research for this population. Leading organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people with severe disabilities must continue to place emphasis on practices and research that have provided empirical demonstrations of effect and standards of proof.

Video Modeling and Observational Learning to Teach Gaming Access to Students with ASD.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate both video modeling and observational learning to teach age-appropriate recreation and leisure skills (i.e., accessing video games) to students with autism spectrum disorder. Effects of video modeling were evaluated via a multiple probe design across participants and criteria for mastery were based on these results. Secondary measures were collected on observational learning across participants and behaviors. Participants included 4 children with autism, ages 8–11, who were served in self-contained special education classrooms. Results indicated a functional relation between video modeling and increased independence in gaming; observational learning occurred for at least some steps across students. Results, implications for practitioners, limitations, and ideas for future research are discussed.

Using Video Models to Teach Students With Disabilities to Play the Wii

This study investigated effects of video modeling (VM) when teaching recreation and leisure skills to three high school students with moderate intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder. Results, evaluated via a multiple probe across participants design, indicated that VM was effective for teaching all students to play the Wii. Students were able to maintain high levels of accuracy in follow-up probes. Study limitations and implications for future research are discussed.

Generalization Strategies to Promote Text Comprehension Skills by Students With ASD in Core Content Areas

As increasing literature emerges to address text comprehension deficits for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), educators often struggle to design interventions resulting in successful generalization of comprehension skills. This evaluative review of literature explored the inclusion of and methods used in generalization of text comprehension research for students with ASD. Authors examined 32 studies across content areas (e.g., English language arts [ELA], math, science) to investigate the following questions: (a) To what extent is generalization addressed across content areas for students with ASD? (b) How did the studies program for generalization? (c) What conclusions can be inferred about effective generalization methods? and (d) Can quality indicators be recommended for generalization methods for text comprehension? Recommendations for quality indicators for generalization measures and strategies are suggested based on the findings from the current review. Implications for future research and instructional practice are also discussed.