Parent perceptions of literacy learning of their young children on the autism spectrum in their first year of schooling

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Author(s)
O'Leary, Kathryn A
Flueckiger, Bev
Paynter, Jessica
Westerveld, Marleen F
Year published
2019
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Many children on the autism spectrum struggle in their reading development. This study investigated parents’ views of challenges and facilitators to literacy learning at home and at school in children on the autism spectrum who were in their first year of schooling. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 37 parents revealed parents’ in-depth knowledge of their child’s strengths and interests, which they utilised to engage their child in literacy learning activities at home. Parents raised concerns about the support their children were receiving at school, with many describing challenges with teacher understanding ...
View more >Many children on the autism spectrum struggle in their reading development. This study investigated parents’ views of challenges and facilitators to literacy learning at home and at school in children on the autism spectrum who were in their first year of schooling. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 37 parents revealed parents’ in-depth knowledge of their child’s strengths and interests, which they utilised to engage their child in literacy learning activities at home. Parents raised concerns about the support their children were receiving at school, with many describing challenges with teacher understanding of autism spectrum disorders, limited adaptation of the curriculum to suit the child’s learning needs and poor communication between school and home. The study challenges schools and educators to review and refine current practices to ensure individualised, learner-focused and inclusive pedagogies and practices to better support children on the autism spectrum.
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View more >Many children on the autism spectrum struggle in their reading development. This study investigated parents’ views of challenges and facilitators to literacy learning at home and at school in children on the autism spectrum who were in their first year of schooling. Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 37 parents revealed parents’ in-depth knowledge of their child’s strengths and interests, which they utilised to engage their child in literacy learning activities at home. Parents raised concerns about the support their children were receiving at school, with many describing challenges with teacher understanding of autism spectrum disorders, limited adaptation of the curriculum to suit the child’s learning needs and poor communication between school and home. The study challenges schools and educators to review and refine current practices to ensure individualised, learner-focused and inclusive pedagogies and practices to better support children on the autism spectrum.
View less >
Journal Title
Australian Journal of Education
Copyright Statement
O'Leary, KA; Flueckiger, B; Paynter, J; Westerveld, MF, Parent perceptions of literacy learning of their young children on the autism spectrum in their first year of schooling, Australian Journal of Education. Copyright 2019 The Authors. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.
Note
This publication has been entered into Griffith Research Online as an Advanced Online Version.
Subject
Specialist Studies in Education
Education
Social Sciences
Education & Educational Research
Autism spectrum disorders
parent opinions
reading development