Individualized Education Programs in Autism - A Comprehensive Review

Introduction:

Psychological development in children is important for proper growth and development. Psychological disorders like autism and autism spectrum disorder are some of the prevalent conditions responsible for such disability. Every one out of 100 children is suffering from such conditions, and it is responsible for major psychological disability in children. Cognitive development and special education programs are helpful in such cases for proper child development.

What Is Autism?

Autism or autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders mainly seen in children and young individuals. Differences in brain development often cause this developmental disorder. This is responsible for the child's emotional, social, cognitive, and physical development. The severity of the condition varies from person to person, and it is usually associated with other disorders. These disorders include Asperger syndrome (a type of developmental disorder), childhood disintegrative disorder (the onset of the developmental disorder is late), and Kanner syndrome (a mental disorder characterized by limited social interaction). The symptoms of autism are:

1. Social Communication Skills:

• Little or almost no eye contact while communicating with others.

• Does not respond to the name or when the person is called.

• No interaction or play with other children by 36 months of age.

• The tendency to spend time alone often neglects the presence of other children and individuals.

2. Delayed Cognitive Development:

• Absence or little facial expression.

• Need help to play simple interactive games.

• Does not sing or dance up to the age of 60 months.

• Unresponsive to the external environment.

3. Restricted or Repetitive Behaviors:

• Tendency to arrange objects and toys in a particular order.

• Repetition of certain physical movements, sounds, words, and affinity towards moving objects.

4. Other Clinical Features:

• Unusual sleeping and eating patterns.

• Anxiety, stress, and other psychological disorders like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

What Are Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)?

Individualized education programs are aimed at making students with communication disabilities more self-sufficient. Students suffering from various conditions like autism, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often show symptoms of deficient communication. This is often associated with altered neurological growth and diminished psychological well-being. This causes decreased social interaction and improper development of social skills. As a result, the total development of the child is hampered. Needless to say, as every child is special, the effects of these disorders are different for different children. That is why, individualized education programs (IEPs) are needed that focus on every child and help them to overcome such difficulties. Individualized education programs are developed with the help of parents, teachers, school staff, and psychologists. This is a written educational plan that has some goals and provides various services that a child with a disability needs to succeed in school.

The goals of individualized education programs (IEPs) are;

1. Individualized education programs (IEPs) must address the difficulties faced by children suffering from autism or any type of psychological disorder.

2. It helps to improve social skills and focuses on psychological growth. As a result, the educational performance of the children is improved.

3. To make children with autism more suitable for different social roles. Educating and uplifting them to perform social duties.

What Is the Structure of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)?

The structure of the individualized education programs is as follows:

1. Communication: Children with autism have difficulty communicating. Visual supports, such as pictures and symbols, can help children with autism understand and communicate more easily. The child should be taught simple communication skills. One can start by teaching the child simple communication skills, such as making eye contact, pointing to what they want, and saying "yes" and "no." Once the child has mastered these basic skills, one can start teaching them more complex communication skills, such as using words and phrases to ask what they want and need.

2. Social Skills: Children with autism spectrum disorders may also have difficulty with social skills. That is why parents or caretakers need to model appropriate social behaviors, such as making eye contact, taking turns, and using polite language. Also, opportunities for the child should be created to interact with other children, such as enrolling them in playgroups or social skills groups. Children should also be taught such as how to start and maintain conversations, how to resolve conflicts, and how to read social cues.

3. Behavior: Some children with autism may also have challenging behaviors, such as tantrums, aggression, and self-injurious behavior. Children and parents should be taught to identify the triggers that set off the child's challenging behaviors. Once someone knows the triggers, they can develop plans to avoid them or help their child cope with the triggers.

What Is the Role of Parents in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)?

Despite the theoretical backing and social requirements in special education for parental involvement, numerous studies have shown that parents' contributions to individualized education programs (IEP) are still not as impactful as they should be. In most cases, parents are not treated as equal partners with school professionals. This is especially true for parents from backward classes and different social backgrounds, who tend to be less engaged in various aspects of the IEP process, such as evaluation, goal-setting, and arranging intervention services for their child's disability, even if they attend IEP meetings. Recent research has focused on identifying obstacles that hinder effective parental participation in education. Also, parents play an important role in motivating the child for this purpose. Their role is as follows:

1. Support: Parents can learn as much as they can about autism. The more they know about autism, the more equipped they will be to help their child.

2. Advocate for the Child: They are their child's best advocate. By being prepared to speak up for their child's needs at school, in the social circle, and at home, they can solve many issues.

3. Create a Structured Environment: People with autism often thrive in structured environments. Parents can establish routines and schedules for the child and stick to them as much as possible.

Conclusion:

Proper psychological and mental growth is needed for autistic children. Individualized education programs (IEPs) focus on the development of communication and social skills in these children. In this approach, participation from teachers, parents, and psychologists is required.