A Critical Evaluation of Effective Support Strategies for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Essay:

(2500 words)

A. Identify ONE intervention or specific support strategy for autistic learners that you would consider to be appropriate to ensure an inclusive teaching approach. Choose from ONE of the following areas:

• Language and communication
• OR Social interaction

Describe, discuss, and justify your selection in terms of evidence-based best practice, and its relevance to the needs of a learner/learners with autism.

B. Reflect on its suitability and effectiveness and consider adaptations that may be needed to support the learner/s.

C. Comment on how implementing this approach or strategy is related to the principle of inclusion. How has your examination and/or implementation of the intervention/support strategy extended your own knowledge and practice?

Support your ideas with evidence from readings, research and other relevant sources. Remember to ensure you are addressing the learning outcomes (LO3, LO4, LOS) for this part of the assignment:

• LO3: Critically evaluate current approaches for the support of learners who experience ASD in the light of research and demonstrate the ability to select appropriate interventions which are person-centred and evidence-informed.
• LO4: Critically appraise policy and practice approaches for the effective inclusion of learners with ASD at whole school, class, and individual level.

Introduction:

In this section you will set the context for your assignment by introducing the main topic, stating the aims and indicating the structure and breadth of your analysis and discussion.

Identify the approach or specific support strategy that you have chosen to evaluate. Justify your choice with reference to the needs of a learner /learners with autism and best practice.

Identify the approach or specific support strategy that you are going to discuss. You should link this to your teaching context/experience and provide a brief description of the needs and strengths of the learner or learners with whom this approach could be implemented, together with a rationale for choosing this approach. Include a descriptive outline of your chosen approach or strategy, its origin and rationale, and the purpose and intended outcome for using the programme, approach, or strategy. Drawing on relevant readings and research, justify your selection in terms of evidence-based best practice, and how this relates to the needs of the learner/s.

Critically evaluate the effectiveness of your chosen approach or support strategy for the learner/s and for your own knowledge and practice.

Briefly describe how the intervention could be implemented in practice. Reflect on its suitability and effectiveness and consider adaptations that may be needed to support the learner/s you described in the profile of strengths and needs, if relevant. Comment on how implementing this approach or support strategy is related to the principle of inclusion, and how it has extended your knowledge and practice. Ensure that you refer back to the learner/s for whom you selected this approach. Draw on relevant readings and research to support your ideas.

Conclusion:

This is where you draw together all the threads of your writing – what have you learnt? What does this mean for practice? It is important that you do not introduce any new ideas here. You should be reviewing and summarising what you have already presented to deliver a cohesive conclusion.

References:

Check that all references cited in the body of your essay are included in the reference list and that they are in keeping with the format of referencing advised.

A critical evaluation of effective support strategies for learners with autism spectrum disorders. a. Identify ONE intervention or specific support strategy for autistic learners that you would consider to be appropriate to ensure an inclusive teaching approach. Choose from ONE of the following areas. Language and communication. OR Social interaction. Describe, discuss, and justify your selection in terms of evidence-based best practice, and its relevance to the needs of a learner with autism.

Creating inclusive classrooms for students with autism involves thoughtful planning, understanding, and implementation of strategies that cater to diverse learning needs. Students have varying learning styles and strengths, and inclusive education practices acknowledge this and offer individualized support through differentiated instruction, possible curriculum modifications, individualized support plans, and extra resources. In addition to this, collaboration between mainstream teachers, special education teachers, and other professionals should also be a part of it. Partnership involves parents, families, and practitioners working together to benefit children. Each recognizes, respects, and values what the other does and says. Partnership involves responsibility on both sides (Alstead Stolta).

Working together with parents to make sure that students are content, feel like they belong, and can reach their full potential is one of the characteristics of a high-quality special education program. To provide children with rich experiences in a variety of contexts, parents and practitioners collaborate to exchange knowledge and make decisions.

The purpose of this essay is to examine a particular support strategy, its critical role in creating environments where each student is acknowledged, respected, and equipped to succeed, hence advancing inclusive education. I’ll explain why I chose this strategy and examine how well it works to promote meaningful, high-quality inclusion.