Spotlight on Practice: Special Educators' Teaching Reading Comprehension to Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder

• In Event: Improving Reading and Writing Instruction for Students With Specific Needs

Abstract

This presentation reports on qualitative case studies of four early career special education teacher who taught literacy to students with (ASD). Formal observations, informal visits, and teacher interviews were conducted with each teacher in order to describe the literacy instruction teachers implemented and identify practices and activities used to enhance the reading comprehension of their students with ASD. The study also looked at the specific differentiated supports teachers use during literacy instruction and challenges teachers encountered. Educators can utilize the findings to help determine strategies and supports, as well as guide future professional development, for developing the literacy skills of students with ASD.

Authors

• Gina L Braun, Rockford College

• Marie Tejero Hughes, University of Illinois at Chicago