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Writing Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Research Synthesis

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders volume 50, pages 1988–2006 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Building on previous research in the area of written expression for individuals with ASD a research synthesis was conducted to identify (1) writing interventions that have been studied and their effect in improving writing skills of individuals with ASD, (2) intervention features that influence the writing skills of learners with ASD, and (3) the quality of the research. A total of 62 participants were represented across the 24 single case design studies meeting inclusion criteria. Nine interventions emerged with a majority focused on self-regulated strategy development. Effective interventions (PND above 70%) are reported, along with the emergent feature of “packages” using co-occurring combinations of visual, motivational, choice, technology, behavioral, peer, auditory, and tactile supports in conjunction with writing interventions.

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References marked with an asterisk indicate studies included in the research synthesis

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Funding

No funding/financial support was given for this research.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. College of Education, Rowan University, 3050 James Hall, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA

    Amy L. Accardo

  2. School of Education, St. Thomas Aquinas College, 125 Route 340, Sparkill, NY, 10976, USA

    Elizabeth G. Finnegan

  3. College of Education, Rowan University, 3058 James Hall, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA

    S. Jay Kuder

  4. College of Education, CASE Center, Rowan University, James Hall, Glassboro, NJ, 08028, USA

    Estyr M. Bomgardner

Authors
  1. Amy L. Accardo
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  2. Elizabeth G. Finnegan
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  3. S. Jay Kuder
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  4. Estyr M. Bomgardner
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Contributions

ALA and EGF conceived of the research synthesis. ALA carried out the synthesis collaboration and drafting of the manuscript. EGF participated in literature review, article review and findings. EMB participated in coding, article review and findings. SJK participated as methodologist taking lead calculating PND. All authors read and approved of the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amy L. Accardo.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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It was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Accardo, A.L., Finnegan, E.G., Kuder, S.J. et al. Writing Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Research Synthesis. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 1988–2006 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03955-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-03955-9

Keywords

  • Autism spectrum disorder
  • Writing
  • Instruction
  • Research synthesis
  • Autism