Transforming Education: longititudinal study of students with autism

The longitudinal study of Students with Autism is a large prospective cohort study and is designed to track education experiences and outcomes for a sample of autistic students for 6 years. The participants comprise 272... [ view full abstract ]

The longitudinal study of Students with Autism is a large prospective cohort study and is designed to track education experiences and outcomes for a sample of autistic students for 6 years. The participants comprise 272 children with autism in 2 equally sized cohorts aged 4-5 and 9-10 years at intake to the study, their parents and their teachers/schools. Students' experiences and outcomes are tracked for 6 years as they move through school using a combination of child, education and family focused assessment tools and surveys.
The aims and methodology of the study will be presented along with findings from the first 2 parent surveys in which parents describe the type and amount of intervention they have accessed for their child in the previous 6 months. The survey data will be discussed in relation to the evidence base for the interventions parents are accessing. The information will help us understand the extent to which research evidence is taken into consideration by parents and the importance if any, parents place on research evidence in making decisions about interventions. The study provides information about education experiences and outcomes for autistic students, their families and schools. This presentation is an opportunity to learn from our experience in developing this large longitudinal study and understand some of the early findings in relation to the type, amount and supporting research evidence for interventions most frequently accessed by families.