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. 2022 Dec 6:13:961219.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.961219. eCollection 2022.

Supporting the inclusion and retention of autistic students: Exploring teachers' and paraeducators' use of evidence-based practices in public elementary schools

Jill Locke  1 , Alyssa M Hernandez  1 , Mahima Joshi  1 , Maria L Hugh  2 , Alice Bravo  1 , Anthony Osuna  1 , Michael David Pullmann  1
Affiliations

Supporting the inclusion and retention of autistic students: Exploring teachers' and paraeducators' use of evidence-based practices in public elementary schools

Jill Locke et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Introduction: Educators in public schools are required to serve students in their least restrictive environment. While many evidence-based practices (EBPs), defined as practices and strategies shown by research to have meaningful effectson outcomes for autistic students are documented in the literature, less is known about EBP use among educators in public schools.

Methods: Eighty-six general and special education teachers and para educators completed a survey about familiarity, training, and EBP use for included autistic children.

Results: Across roles, educators reported familiarity (98.8%), use (97.7%), and training (83.7%) in reinforcement. They reported the least familiarity with behavioral momentum (29.1%), training in both video modeling and peer-mediated instruction and intervention (18.6%), and use of video modeling (14.0%). Follow-up interviews (n = 80) highlighted mixed understanding of EBP definitions and use.

Discussion: Implications for inclusive education are discussed including autism-specific EBP training within pre-service teacher preparation programs.

Keywords: autism; educators; evidence-based practice; inclusion; paraeducator.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of different practices educators were familiar with, trained in, or used, with standard deviation whiskers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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