Autism and mainstream education: the parental perspective, 25 Aug 2023
Malta has one of the highest rates, across Europe, of children with a statement of special educational needs receiving their education in mainstream schools. Research has suggested that to be successful with achieving inclusivity, the contribution of the family must be considered. This study aims to explore the perspectives and experiences of parents of autistic children who attend mainstream education settings in Malta in relation to their perception of educator's knowledge about autism, satisfaction or concerns with their child's progress, perception of support received and their feelings relating to their child's school experience. A mixed methods research design was utilised involving a questionnaire comprising 10 questions, as well as 10 parent interviews to yield qualitative data. Results showed that the majority believed that the teachers did not have the necessary knowledge to effectively adapt and teach their autistic child in a mainstream setting. While positive elements in their experience emerged, there were reports of feelings of anxiety and worry and lack of support. Read more…
Correction: Professional development of behaviour analysts in Europe: a snapshot for 21 countries, Sept 2023
Behaviour analysts are not recognized or regulated as a distinct profession in Europe. For the most part, European behaviour analysts adhered to the standards set by the U.S.-based Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB). However, the BACB certification has not been recognized officially in any European jurisdiction. The recent decision by the BACB to discontinue eligibility of non-U.S. residents to apply for the BCBA exam by the end of 2022 has brought the issue of professional regulation outside of the United States into sharp focus. This article offers a snapshot in time of professional recognition of behaviour analysts in 21 European countries. It stems from the Erasmus+ funded EuroBA project and its Professional Advisory Group (PAG). The EuroBA project aims to develop common standards and competences for behaviour analysts to facilitate national regulation and mutual recognition across Europe. Read more…
A systematic review of the impact of precision teaching and fluency-building on teaching children diagnosed with autism, 27 Sept 2022
Precision teaching (PT) is a holistic system that allows the monitoring of behaviour change on a specially designed Standard Celeration Chart (SCC). In instructional settings, precision teachers aim for fluent responding (i.e., accuracy and speed) from their learners. Thus PT, in these settings, includes fluency-building (FB) strategies. FB strategies can be used without graphing the learner's performance on the SCC. Behavioural fluency is linked to high skills retention, endurance, stability, and generalisation to other skills and environments. A systematic literature review was carried out across PT methodology for skill acquisition of children diagnosed with autism. A systematic literature review of fluency-building procedures used in the process of skill acquisition of children diagnosed with autism was also performed. Reichow, Volkmar, and Cicchetti's (2008) assessment tool was used to establish the empirical validity of the 13 studies identified in this review. Results suggest that while there is emerging evidence for the positive outcomes, the evidence base is rather small. The implications for the use of PT and fluency-building procedures to support individuals diagnosed with autism are discussed. Read more…
Professional development of behaviour analysts in Europe: A snapshot for 21 countries, 10 Nov 2022
Behaviour analysts are not recognized or regulated as a distinct profession in Europe. For the most part, European behaviour analysts adhered to the standards set by the U.S.-based Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB). However, the BACB certification has not been recognized officially in any European jurisdiction. The recent decision by the BACB to discontinue eligibility of non-U.S. residents to apply for the BCBA exam by the end of 2022 has brought the issue of professional regulation outside of the United States into sharp focus. This article offers a snapshot in time of professional recognition of behaviour analysts in 21 European countries. It stems from the Erasmus+ funded EuroBA project and its Professional Advisory Group (PAG). The EuroBA project aims to develop common standards and competences for behaviour analysts to facilitate national regulation and mutual recognition across Europe. Read more…