Faculty Perceptions of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder Behaviors in the Higher Education Classroom

• In Event: 63.085 - Poster Session 13
  In Poster Session: 63.085-5 - Poster Session: Faculty, Curriculum, and Teaching

Abstract

A mixed methods electronic survey was designed and distributed to discover how faculty now think about typical ASD behaviors in their classrooms and to examine the relationship between the stages of their perception process through an attention-attitude-reaction-action model. Participants (N = 165) represented an 18% response rate of total faculty from a mid-western public research university. Descriptive statistics showed the mean scores of eleven typical ASD behaviors as consistently attracting attention, met with somewhat negative attitudes/curious reactions, and tolerated/accommodated in action. Through a four component pathway linear regression analysis, several significant (< .005) correlations confirmed the theoretical perception model. The implications of this study impress the need for more specific resources and development to assist faculty.

Author

• Lisa Jeanne Friedrich, A.T. Still University