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Bejnö H, Roll-Pettersson L, Klintwall L, Långh U, Odom SL, Bölte S. Adapting the preschool environment to the needs of children on the autism spectrum in Sweden: A quasi-experimental study. Scand J Occup Ther 2023; 30:278-297. [PMID: 34696666 DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2021.1993330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children on the autism spectrum may receive Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) in Sweden to support development by providing learning opportunities. However, research suggests a need to improve the quality of their learning environment. AIM This pre-registered study (#NCT03634761) aimed to evaluate the Swedish Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS-P-SE) as a means to promote the quality of the pre-school learning environment for children on the autism spectrum, along with outcomes for these children, and their pre-school staff. MATERIAL AND METHODS In a quasi-experimental study, pre-school staff (n = 35) conducted either EIBI supported by in-service training and on-site coaching based on APERS-P-SE assessment (at k = 9 preschools) or EIBI only (k = 8), during an 8-months period. RESULTS The quality of the immediate learning environment (primary outcome) increased significantly in the EIBI/APERS-P-SE preschools. However, changes in child and pre-school staff measures were not significant. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE In-service training and on-site coaching based on APERS-P-SE assessments can increase the quality of the learning environment in Swedish pre-school. Studies of longer duration and larger sample size are required to determine if using the APERS-P-SE can also achieve desired behavioural change for children-, and impact pre-school staff applying EIBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hampus Bejnö
- Department of Special Education, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Lars Klintwall
- Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Långh
- Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, CAP Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
- Autism Center for Young Children, Habilitation & Health, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Samuel L Odom
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - Sven Bölte
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Curtin Autism Research Group, School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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2
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Edin J. The identity making of teachers, pupil assistants and the diagnosed pupil: discourses in the context of segregated special education units. EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIOURAL DIFFICULTIES 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/13632752.2023.2175460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Johan Edin
- Department of Education, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Chahboun S, Stenseng F, Page AG. The changing faces of autism: The fluctuating international diagnostic criteria and the resulting inclusion and exclusion-A Norwegian perspective. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:787893. [PMID: 35966490 PMCID: PMC9365987 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.787893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The common understanding of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has gone through a number of permutations since the first description in 1943. Throughout these shifting understandings, there have been a number of behaviors and diagnostic criteria associated with the condition, many of which are missing in the most recent classifications. The rates of diagnoses of autism have increased greatly. However, there is no reason to think there has been any change in occurrence over the last 70 years, suggesting rather an increase in our knowledge and awareness. Autism has been the subject of several misapprehensions and misrepresentations throughout history. This might be due to heterogeneity of the cases. In addition, the diagnosing of autism spectrum disorders is mainly based on observation and behavioral interpretation, and thus dependent on subjective perceptions of the clinicians themselves. This current scoping review article intends to provide a view on the evolution of the concept of autism and the current stance within Norwegian scholarship, and how it is shaped by international discourses and cultural diversities Such changing concepts especially impacts people with the diagnosis, as it can affect their access to social services, as well as their self-identification as people with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobh Chahboun
- Department of Pedagogy, Queen Maud University College, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Frode Stenseng
- Department of Pedagogy, Queen Maud University College, Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Alexander G. Page
- Department of Social Work, The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- ARENA, Centre for European Studies, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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Lord C, Charman T, Havdahl A, Carbone P, Anagnostou E, Boyd B, Carr T, de Vries PJ, Dissanayake C, Divan G, Freitag CM, Gotelli MM, Kasari C, Knapp M, Mundy P, Plank A, Scahill L, Servili C, Shattuck P, Simonoff E, Singer AT, Slonims V, Wang PP, Ysrraelit MC, Jellett R, Pickles A, Cusack J, Howlin P, Szatmari P, Holbrook A, Toolan C, McCauley JB. The Lancet Commission on the future of care and clinical research in autism. Lancet 2022; 399:271-334. [PMID: 34883054 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)01541-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 129.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tony Charman
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Mental Disorders, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Paul Carbone
- Department of Pediatrics at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Themba Carr
- Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Encinitas, CA, USA
| | - Petrus J de Vries
- Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Cheryl Dissanayake
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Peter Mundy
- University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Chiara Servili
- Department of Mental Health and Substance Use, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Emily Simonoff
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Vicky Slonims
- Evelina Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Paul P Wang
- Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, Simons Foundation, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Rachel Jellett
- Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew Pickles
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Patricia Howlin
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Peter Szatmari
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Bejnö H, Bölte S, Linder N, Långh U, Odom SL, Roll-Pettersson L. From Someone Who May Cause Trouble to Someone You Can Play With: Stakeholders' Perspectives on Preschool Program Quality for Autistic Children. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:3890-3908. [PMID: 34499273 PMCID: PMC9349083 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05268-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In Sweden, young autistic children typically attend community-based preschool programs, which may not be adapted to their needs. In the current study, stakeholders to autistic children receiving Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention were interviewed following a quasi-randomized study (#NCT03634761) aimed at improving the preschool program quality using the Swedish version of the Autism Program Environment Rating Scale (APERS). Stakeholders provided their perceptions and experiences concerning key factors for high quality preschool programs as well as well as their experiences of the abovementioned APERS study. Applying thematic analysis, stakeholder groups differed in what they emphasized, but all highlighted staff’s competence, children’s inclusion and participation, collaboration, and the learning environment as key program areas that had been positively influenced by the APERS-based intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hampus Bejnö
- Department of Special Education, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Sven Bölte
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Curtin Autism Research Group, Curtin School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
- KIND, CAP Research Center, Gävlegatan 22 B, 11330, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nina Linder
- Department of Special Education, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrika Långh
- Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
- Autism Center for Young Children, Habilitation & Health, Stockholm County Council, 104 62, Stockholm, Sweden
- KIND, CAP Research Center, Gävlegatan 22 B, 11330, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Samuel L Odom
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, CB 8180, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-8180, USA
| | - Lise Roll-Pettersson
- Department of Special Education, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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Leifler E, Carpelan G, Zakrevska A, Bölte S, Jonsson U. Does the learning environment 'make the grade'? A systematic review of accommodations for children on the autism spectrum in mainstream school. Scand J Occup Ther 2020; 28:582-597. [PMID: 33078981 DOI: 10.1080/11038128.2020.1832145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adapted by the United Nations envisions inclusive and equitable quality education. While there is a growing body of research on interventions designed to help children on the autism spectrum adapt to the school environment, accommodations to children needs have been given less attention. OBJECTIVE To synthesize the literature on accommodations in the learning environment for children on the autism spectrum (ages 5-19 years) in mainstream school, with a specific focus on the effects on functioning, educational outcomes and well-being. METHODS A systematic search was conducted. The study selection and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Eligible studies were assessed according to the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards. RESULTS The search yielded 6102 citations. Only 37 eligible studies were identified, of which 14 met the WWC standards. This inconclusive and heterogeneous body of research tentatively suggest that accommodations in the pedagogical and psychosocial leaning environment can improve performance and function in school. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE Accommodations in the learning environment is a promising but understudied approach. Creative research and innovation will be needed to support policy makers and school personnel in their quest to ensure inclusive and equitable education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Leifler
- Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, CAP Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Pedagogical, Curricular and Professional Studies, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Gabriella Carpelan
- Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, CAP Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasiya Zakrevska
- Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, CAP Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sven Bölte
- Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, CAP Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Services, Stockholm, Sweden.,Curtin Autism Research Group, School of Occupational Therapy, Social Work and Speech Pathology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
| | - Ulf Jonsson
- Karolinska Institutet Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, CAP Research Centre, Stockholm, Sweden.,Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Stockholm Health Services, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Abstract
The current study, based on a survey of 1799 parents, explored parental perspectives of school absence in relation to approved grades, challenges, demands and obstacles in education for children with autism spectrum disorder. The results revealed a relatively high rate of school absenteeism for reasons other than illness. Girls had higher rates of absenteeism than boys for short durations of absence. Absenteeism was primarily caused by a lack of teacher competence regarding autism and inadequate adaptation of teaching. There were no significant differences between genders in approved grades, but the rate of failure to achieve approved grades was approximately 50%. The most common form of educational support was support from special needs teachers and adapted pedagogy.
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Kraemer BR, Odom SL, Tomaszewski B, Hall LJ, Dawalt L, Hume KA, Steinbrenner JR, Szidon K, Brum C. Quality of high school programs for students with autism spectrum disorder. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2019; 24:707-717. [PMID: 31747775 DOI: 10.1177/1362361319887280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the quality of high school programs for students with autism spectrum disorder in the United States. The Autism Program Environment Rating Scale-Middle/High School was used to rate the quality of programs for students with autism spectrum disorder in 60 high schools located in three geographic locations in the United States (CA, NC, and WI). Findings indicated that the total quality rating across schools was slightly above the adequate criterion. Higher quality ratings occurred for program environment, learning climate, family participation, and teaming domains. However, quality ratings for intervention domains related to the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (e.g. communication, social, independence, functional behavior, and transition) were below the adequate quality rating level. Also, quality ratings for transition were significantly higher for modified (primarily self-contained) programs than standard diploma (primarily served in general education) programs. School urbanicity was a significant predictor of program quality, with suburban schools having higher quality ratings than urban or rural schools, controlling for race, school enrollment size, and Title 1 eligibility status. Implications for working with teachers and school teams that support high school students with autism spectrum disorder should include a targeted focus on transition programming that includes a breadth of work-based learning experiences and activities that support social-communication domains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel L Odom
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kara A Hume
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
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