Choosing a Career Path: Moving beyond the Challenges of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. It is estimated that 1 in 54 children has been diagnosed with ASD (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2020). One area of concern for some parents is f...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals pp. 145 - 159
Main Authors Spencer, Vicky G, Cesard, S. Lynn
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published American Academy of Special Education Professionals 2022
Subjects
Applied Behavior Analysis
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Behavior Modification
Behavior Problems
Career Choice
Eating Habits
Food
Goal Orientation
Grade 8
Intervention
Middle School Students
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. It is estimated that 1 in 54 children has been diagnosed with ASD (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2020). One area of concern for some parents is food selectivity which can be a common problem among individuals with ASD and often continues into adulthood. For this in-home case study, 13-year-old Michael has ASD, and his underlying cognitive rigidity and sensory issues were impeding his career goal of becoming a dessert chef. Prior to the intervention, Michael ate a very restrictive diet, refusing all fruit, beef, fish, and vegetables. The specific intervention for addressing Michael's food selectivity issues included goal-setting, providing choice-making opportunities, developing and implementing a plan. The results suggest that using choice as an antecedent manipulation may be an effective method for the treatment of food selectivity.