Autism: Intervention Methods for High Functioning Autistic Children in the U.S.A

Rouzanah MaghrabiNational Conference for Autism

May/2/2012Trade Winds Resort in St. Pete Beach,

Florida

Ready. Set. Hope

O The purpose of this presentation is to high light the progress that has been made in the United States in terms of the interventions for high functioning autistic children in order to apply culturally acceptable interventions in Saudi Arabia.

Background

O Who are high functioning autistic children?

O What educational progress has been made in the area of autism in the United States from the 1900s to today ?

Background

In the past up until

1900

1960s and 1970s

1980s and 1990

2002 to today

1940

Background

O What is the current state of Special Education in Saudi Arabia?

Research Question

O How have the interventions for high functioning autistic children in the United States changed from 2005 to 2012 and can the findings be applied in Saudi Arabia?

Effective Intervention Methods in the U.S.A

Interventions:O Individualized Education ProgramO Visual cues: social storiesO Peer groups

Interventions Example of a social story:

People like it when I say "hi" to them.There are many times during the day when I can say "hi" to people.I can say "hi" to my family when I get up in the morning.I can say "hi" to my bus driver.I can say "hi" to my friends and teachers when I get to school.I can even say "hi" to people I see in the hallway.I can say "hi" to new people that I meet.I makes people happy when you say "hi" to them.I will try to say "hi" to the people I see during the day.

(Michele,.d)

Analysis of the findings

Denning2009

Laushey et al2009

In their studies

Combine interventi

on methods

Analysis of the findings

Investigation of case studies

Huang, A et al (2006)

Long term research

Huang, A et al (2006)

Apply cross cultural

interventions

Huang, A et al (2006)

Considerations for Implications

O Culturally acceptableO schools conditionsO Educators and teaching

Implications

O we need to gather more information about long term studies in order to address the critics of some experts who say that there is not enough statistical hard evidence for some intervention claims.

O Long term studies may help answer questions about difficult cases where common intervention methods don’t work for some autistic children.

ConclusionO The United States has a longer

history of research and progress in this field. Therfore, some of the interventions can be helpful to education in Saudi Arabia.

ReferencesO Denning, C. (2007) Social skills interventions for students with

Asperger’s Syndrome and High Functioning Autism: Research findings and implications for Teachers. Journal of Beyond Behavior. University of Virginia

O William,J (n.d). An Introduction to Social Stories. Retrieved April 12,2012 from http://www.polyxo.com/socialstories/introduction.html#sample

O Huang. A &Wheeler. J (2006). Effective Interventions for Individuals with High Functioning Autism. International Journal of Special Education. Vol. 21 No.3

O Laushey , K. Heflin ,J. Shippen, M. Alberto, P. & Laura, F.(2009). Concept Mastery Routines to Teach Social Skills to Elementary Children with High Functioning Autism. Journal of Autism and Development Disorder (2009) 39:1435–1448 I 10.1007/s10803-009-0757-9

Thank You for listening

Autism: Intervention Methods for High Functioning Autistic Children in the

U.S.A

Rouzanah MaghrabiRmaghrab@gmu.edu