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Discovering Gems: Authentic Listening to the ‘Voice’ of Experience in Teaching Pupils with Autism
Type
Book chapter
Journal Title
Book title
Education Matters: Ireland's Year Book on Education
Publication Date
2018
Volume
Issue
Start page
171
End page
175
Publication Number of pages
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Empirical research on evidenced-based practice provision for people with autism values quantitative methods (Bond & Symes, 2014; Westerveld et al. 2015) over the qualitative methods that relay ‘voice’ through, for example, teacher interviews. Any attempt to justify educational practice must include the voice and views of all experts (Perry 2009). This article challenges the notion that the application of evidenced-based scientific programmes for autism specific intervention are the sole ‘best-practice’ approaches in schools. Presented as direct support is evidence on literacy teaching and learning - particularly from a ‘voice’ perspective - regarding the professional and ethical practice of a case study teacher as she ‘discovers gems’ when teaching pupils with autism. The article relates to findings from a programme of research that explored literacy practices, involving pupils with autism (N=35), their parents (N=34) and teachers (N=14), and observations of teaching and learning (N=189 hours) in autism specific classrooms (N=7) in mainstream primary education in Ireland.
Keywords
Best practice, autism teaching and learning