SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL TREATMENT OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN: A COMPARATIVE STUDY–1. DESIGN OF STUDY AND CHARACTERISTICS OF UNITS

Abstract

SUMMARY Autistic children attending three different special units were followed up over a 31/2–4 yr period to assess changes in educational, cognitive, linguistic, social and behavioural status. The régimes in the units varied in the amount of structure and the orientation to educational goals. This paper presents detail of the study design, methods used, and results of an objective examination of staff behaviour in the three units. It was possible to demonstrate significant differences in the amount and character of staff interactions with children both between units and between individual staff.