Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Effects of Learning Strategy Training on the Writing Performance of College Students with Asperger’s Syndrome

  • S.I. : College experiences for students with ASD
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are increasingly entering institutions of higher education. However, many are not prepared for the academic and social demands of postsecondary environments. Although studies have evaluated academic and social interventions for children and adolescents with ASD, little research exists on the college population. The current study utilized a multiple baseline across participants design to evaluate the effectiveness of a writing learning strategy on the writing performance of three college students with ASD. Results indicated that the quality of writing performance improved following strategy instruction. In addition, participants were able to generalize strategy use to content specific writing tasks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th edn.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Asaro-Saddler, K., & Bak, N. (2013). Persuasive writing and self-regulation training for writers with autism spectrum disorders. The Journal of Special Education, 48(2), 92–105. doi:10.1177/0022466912474101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayres, K., Boon, R. T., & Fore, C. (2005). The effects of cognitive organizers to facilitate content-area learning for students with mild disabilities: A pilot study. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 32(2), 101–117.

  • Asaro-Saddler, K., & Saddler, B. (2010). Planning instruction and self-regulation training: Effects on writers with autism spectrum disorders. Exceptional Children, 77(1), 107–124. doi:10.1177/001440291007700105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azano, A., & Tuckwiller, E. D. (2011). GPS for the English classroom: Understanding executive dysfunction in secondary students with autism. Teaching Exceptional Children, 43(6), 38–43. doi:10.1177/004005991104300604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bos, C. S., & Vaughn, S. (2002). Strategies for teaching students with learning and behavior problems. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, H. M., & Klein, P. D. (2011). Writing, Asperger syndrome, and theory of mind. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 1464–1474. doi:10.1007/s10803-010-1168-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Delano, M. E. (2007). Use of strategy instruction to improve the story writing skills of a student with Asperger syndrome. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 22(4), 252–258. doi:10.1177/10883576070220040701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dexter, D. D., & Hughes, C. A. (2011). Graphic organizers and students with learning disabilities: A meta-analysis. Learning Disability Quarterly, 34(1), 51–72. doi:10.1177/073194871103400104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, E. (2004). Asperger’s confounds colleges. Chronicle of Higher Education, 51(7), 2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fluery, V. P., Hedges, S., Hume, K., Browder, D. M., Thompson, J. L., Fallin, K., & Vaughn, S. (2014). Addressing the academic needs of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder in secondary education. Remedial and Special Education, 35(2), 68–79. doi:10.1177/0741932513518823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gelbar, N. W., Smith, I., & Reichow, B. (2014). Systematic review of articles describing experience and supports of individuals with autism enrolled in college and university programs. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(5), 1–9. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2135-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graetz, J. E., & Spampinato, K. (2008). Asperger’s syndrome and the voyage through high school: Not the final frontier. Journal of College Admission, 198, 19–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graham, S., & Harris, K. R. (1989). Improving learning disabled students’ skills at composing essays: Self-instructional strategy training. Exceptional Children, 56, 201–214. doi:10.1177/001440298905600305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Graham, S., Harris, K. R., & McKeown, D. (2013). The writing of students with LD, a meta-analysis of SRSD writing intervention studies, and future directions: Redux. In L. Swanson, K. R. Harris & S. Graham (Eds.), Handbook of learning disabilities (2nd ed.; pp. 405–438). New York, NY: Guilford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, K. R., & Graham, S. (1999). Programmatic intervention research: Illustrations from the evolution of self-regulated strategy development. Learning Disability Quarterly, 22(4), 251–262. doi:10.2307/1511259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill, E. L. (2004). Evaluating the theory of executive dysfunction in autism. Developmental Review, 24(2), 189–233. doi:10.1016/j.dr.2004.01.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, V. K., Spooner, F., Browder, D. M., Smith, B. R., & Wood, C. L. (2013). Using systematic instruction and graphic organizers to teach science concepts to students with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability. Focus on Autism and Related Disabilities, 28(2), 115–126. doi:10.1177/1088357612475301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ledford, J. R., Wolery, M., & Gast, D. L. (2014). Controversial and critical issues in single case research. In D. L. Gast & J. R. Ledford (Eds.), Single case research methodology: Applications in special education and behavioral sciences (2nd ed., pp. 377–396). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Learning Express. (2007). 501 writing prompts. New York, NY: Learning Express, LLC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, L. H., Harris, K. R., & Graham, S. (2011). Self-regulated strategy development for students with writing difficulties. Theory into Practice, 50, 20–27. doi:10.1080/00405841.2011.534922.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNeal, B. (1979). Springboards for writing. Novato, CA: Academic Therapy Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myles, B. S., & Simpson, R. L. (2001). Effective practices for students with Asperger syndrome. Focus on Exceptional Children, 34(3), 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nevill, R. E. A., & White, S. W. (2011). College students’ openness toward autism spectrum disorders: Improving peer acceptance. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(12), 1619–1628. doi:10.1007/s10803-011-1189-x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newman, L., Wagner, M., Cameto, R., Knokey, A.-M., & Shaver, D. (2010). Comparisons across time of the outcomes of youth with disabilities up to 4 years after high school. A report of findings from the national longitudinal transition study (NLTS) and the national longitudinal transition study-2 (NLTS-2) (NCSER 2010-3008). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.

  • Newman, L., Wagner, M., Knokey, A.-M., Marder, C., Nagle, K., Shaver, D. & Schwarting, M. (2011). The post-high school outcomes of young adults with disabilities up to 8 years after high school. A report from the national longitudinal transition study-2 (NLTS2) (NCSER 2011-3005). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International. Retrieved from http://www.nlts2.org/reports/.

  • Roberts, V., & Joiner, R. (2007). Investigating the efficacy of concept mapping with pupils with autistic spectrum disorder. British Journal of Special Education, 34(3), 127–135. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8578.2007.00468.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanford, C., Newman, L., Wagner, M., Cameto, R., Knokey, A.-M., & Shaver, D. (2011). The post-high school outcomes of young adults with disabilities up to 6 years after high school. Key findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) (NCSER 2011-3004). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International. Retrieved from http://www.nlts2.org/reports/.

  • Schumacher, J. B., & Deshler, D. D. (2003). Can students with LD become competent writers? Learning Disability Quarterly, 26(2), 129–141. doi:10.2307/1593595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scruggs, T. E., & Mastropieri, M. A. (2013). PND at 25: Past present, and future trends in summarizing single-subject research. Remedial and Special Education, 34, 9–19. doi:10.1177/0741932512440730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturm, J. M., & Rankin-Erickson, J. L. (2002). Effects of hand-drawn and computer-generated concept mapping on the expository writing of middle school students with learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 17(2), 124–139. doi:10.1111/1540-5826.00039.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whalon, K., & Hart, J. E. (2011). Adapting an evidence-based reading comprehension strategy for learners with autism spectrum disorders. Intervention in School and Clinic, 46(4), 195–203. doi:10.1177/1053451210389036.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitby, P. J. (2012). The effects of Solve It! on the mathematical word problem solving ability of adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 28(2), 78–88. doi:10.1177/1088357612468764.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Charles Dukes, Dr. Jessica Bucholz and Dr. Deborah Shepherd for their contributions and assistance in making this study possible. This manuscript was based on a study completed for a doctoral dissertation.

Author Contributions

LGJ conceived of the study, participated in its design and coordination and drafted the manuscript; MLD participated in the design of the study and interpretation of the data and helped to draft the manuscript. MPB participated in the design and interpretation of the data and helped to draft the manuscript. JM participated in the implementation of the study and performed data collection and analysis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lynn G. Jackson.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jackson, L.G., Duffy, M.L., Brady, M.P. et al. Effects of Learning Strategy Training on the Writing Performance of College Students with Asperger’s Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 708–721 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3170-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3170-9

Keywords

Navigation