Journal #8- Dr. Susan White- Virginia Tech Autism Clinic

Questions for Dr. White:
1. What ages are permitted to be studied in Virginia Tech's ASD Clinic?
2. Why did you become interested in ASD?
3. What do you think is the biggest challenge a person with ASD faces?

Dr. Susan White is a researcher at the Virginia Tech Autism Clinic. She also works in the Psychosocial Interventions Lab and in the Department of Psychology here at Virginia Tech. In her powerpoint, she defined autism as a spectrum of disabilities, all of which are characterized by severe deficits in reciprocal social interaction skills. She stated that the 3 factors that contribute to the spectrum nature of autism are: children with autism may possess any level of intellectual ability, vary in the severity of their language problems, and how their behavior changes with age.

Dr. White explained how there are many learning challenges that a student with ASD can face. They can have problems with joint attention, difficulty relating to others, difficulty with traditional school curriculum, and unusual, stereotypical, or self-stimulatory behaviors. To help modify these challenges, there is something called Discrete Trial Training that teachers can implement. Discrete Trial Training presents a learning opportunity where the teacher reinforces a student's correct response. DTT involves both prompting and shaping of target behavior.

Other strategies teachers can use to help students with ASD is using a functional assessment, behavioral momentum, priming, structured learning environment, or visually based supports. Functional assessment is when a teacher would identify the things that produce problematic behavior, and replace those problem behaviors with a more functional behavior. Behavioral momentum is very helpful with noncompliance, and priming is also known as social stories where it helps to child to predict what will happen. A structured learning environment helps facilitate transitions for a student and is where there are specific areas designated for classroom activities and a schedule of when they will happen. Visually based supports are when a teacher uses picture schedules to help cue the child.