Teaching Practices for Children with Autism (CWA) at Baguio SPED Center

Main Article Content

Dante M. Miguel

Abstract

With the increasing number of children with Autism (CWA) in the Philippines, this study looked at the teaching practices in a multi-awarded Special Education Center. It documented the CWAs’ challenging behaviors, practices applied by SPED teachers in dealing with the challenging behaviors, and the effectiveness of such practices using mixed method of research. Findings show that the challenging behaviors of CWAs are aggressiveness, defiance, hyperactivity, motor deficiencies, self-stimulatory, speech deficiencies, and tantrums. The practices applied by the SPED teachers include Behavior Modification Techniques (BMTs), classroom set-ups, and schedule modifications. The study concludes that CWAs display certain types of challenging behavior different from each other. Most of these challenging behaviors occur very often that SPED teachers have to apply various practices repeatedly. However, applying a particular practice should be based upon the cause of the behavior, the CWA’s reaction, and the perceived effectiveness of the practice. This study recommends that using a certain practice for a particular type of challenging behavior, as documented in this study, be considered by other SPED Centers and regular school teachers handling inclusive education classes. Further, it recommends incorporating these practices and their appropriate application in in-service and continuing education training curriculums.

Article Details

Section
Articles

References

Ackerman, C.E. (2020). 12 Examples of Positive
Punishment & Negative Reinforcement.
PositivePsychology.com. https://positivepsycholo
gy.com/positive-punishment/

Algabis, F.U. (2012). Behavioral Problems of pupils
and identified remedial measures. Unpublished
Masters Thesis. Cordillera Career Development
College.

American Psychiatric Association [APA]. (2013).
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental
disorders, 5th Ed. DSM-5. Copyright American
Psychiatric Association, 80.

Andin, C.T. (1988). Teaching Physical Education in
Philippine Schools. Unpublished Thesis. Philippine
Normal College.

Applied Behavioral Analysis Programs.
(2020). Applied Behavioral Analysis Programs:
Simple Behavior Strategies for Children with
Autism. Applied Behavioral Analysis Programs
Guide. https://www.appliedbehavioranalysis
programs.com/lists/5-easy-to-implement-beha
vior-strategies-for-children-with-autism/

Bright Tot Inc. (2014). Educational Toys & Resource
Guide to Child Development. Bright Tot Inc.
http://brighttots.com/ Autistic_behaviors.html

Burns, S.D. (2012). Autism and motor skill
deficiencies linked Medical News Today, Autism.
BrainyPhysics. http://www.brainphysics.com/
n e w s / re s e a rc h / a u t i s m - a n d - m o to r- s k i l l -
deficiencies-linked

Celino, D.A., & Laruan, M.L. (2008). Discipline
approaches utilized by secondary school teachers in
Baguio City. Unpublished Masters Thesis.

Cherry, K. (2018). What is Positive Punishment?
Verywellmind. https://www.verywellmind.com/
what-is-positive-punishment-2795411

Coie, J.D. , & Dodge, K.A. (1998). Aggression and
antisocial behavior. In W. Damon & N. Eisenberg
(Eds.), Handbook of child psychology: Social,
emotional, and personality development (Vol. 3,
pp. 779–862). Toronto: Wiley

Cook, B.G., & Tankersley, M. (2013). Research-based
practices in special education. Copyright by Pearson
Education, Inc., 167-168.

Cross, C.T. & Donovan, M.S. (2002). Minority
students in special education and gifted
education. Committee on Minority
Representation in Special Education. National
Research Council. Washington, DC: National
Acasdemic Press, 2.

Diamante, C., Frasco, C., Luceros, C., Rosalinda,
A., Lim, A., Aguilaar, D., & Solitario, R. (2007). No
limits: Teachers including learners with disabilities
in the regular classrooms. Produced by the
Materials Development center, Region XI, 118

Dizon, E.I. (2006). Behavior modification: strategies
and techniques. 26th Mobile Training Program
for Special Teachers. Cordillera Administrative
Region (CAR), Hotel Supreme 113 Magsaysay
Avenue, Baguio City.

Dizon, E., Baldo, T., & Camara, E. (2000). Teaching
Filipino Children with Autism. Department of
Education, Culture & Sports.

Goodman, B. (2015). Autism, ADHD Often Occur
Together, Research Shows. WebMD Archives.
https://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news
/20130606/autism-adhd-often-occur-together-
research-shows

Herbert, M., & Weintraub, K. (2013). The Autism
Revolution: Whole-Body Strategies for Making
Life All It Can Be Paperback. http://www.autismrevolution.org
/canaries-autism-and-sensory-overload-blog-by-jessica-solodar/

Hernandez, E. (2015). How Can I Apply a Shaping
of Desired Behavior in My Classroom? How to
Adult. http://www.ehow.com/how_8127671_can
-shaping-desired-behavior-classroom.html

Hume, K. (2007). Visual schedules: How and why to
use them in the classroom. Autism Advocate, 48:
44-47.

Hunter, R. (2013). Head banging. Mamas Health Inc.
http://www.mamashealth.com/child/headbang.
asp

Inciong, T.G. & Quijano, Y.S. (2013). Inclusion
of Children with Disabilities: The Philippines
Experience. Asia Pacific Journal of Education,
24(2): 179-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/021887
91.2004.10600208

Iovannone, R. (2003). Teaching students with
autism spectrum disorder. In Cook, B.G. &
Tankersley, M. (2013). Research-based practices
in special education. Pearson Education, 396,399.

Kaiser B., & Rasminsky, B.K. (2007). Challenging
Behavior in Young Children Understanding,
Preventing, and Responding Effectively, 2nd
Edition. Pearson.

Klin, A., & Volkmar, F.R. (1997). Asperger Syndrome.
In DJ, Volkmar FR,eds. Handbook of Autism and
Pervasive Developmental Disorders. New York:
Wiley & Sons.

Lambatin Jr., L.O. (2018). DOH6: Persons with
autism rising. Philippine Information Agency.
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1006481

Legaspi, V.P. (2009). Behavior modification for children
with Disruptive and Violent Behaviors. Unpublished
Masters Thesis. University of the Cordilleras.

Legg, T.J. (2018). What is stimming? Medical
News Today Online Newspaper. https://www.
medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319714

MacDonald, M., Lord, C., Ulrich, D.A. (2014) Motor
skills and calibrated autism severity in young
children with autism spectrum disorder. APAQ
Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 31(2): 95–
105.

Martinelle, K. (2020). Transforming Children’s Lives.
Are Time Outs Harmful to Children? Child Mind
Institute, Inc. https://childmind.org/article/are-
time-outs-harmful-kids/

Mather, N., & Goldstein, S. (2001). Learning
disabilities and challenging behaviors: A guide
to intervention and classroom management.
Baltimore: Brookes.

Miltenberger, R. G. (2008). Behavior Modification:
Principles and Procedures (4th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Thompson Wadsworth.

Morgan, D. P., & Jenson, W. R. (1988). Teaching
behaviorally disordered students: Preferred
practices. Merrill Publishing Co.

Muega, Michael A. (2016). “Inclusive Education
in the Philippines: Through the Eyes of Teachers,
Administrators, and Parents of Children with
Special Needs.” Social Science Diliman, 12:5–28.

National Insitute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke. (2014). What is Autism? National Insitute
of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://
www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/Patient-Caregiver-
Education/Fact-Sheets/Autism-Spectrum-
Disorder-Fact- Sheet#:~:tex t=Autism%20
spectrum%20disorder%20(ASD)%20refers,
childhood%20and%20affect%20daily%20
functioning.

Raising Children Network. (2015). The Australian
parenting website: comprehensive, practical,
expert child health and parenting. Raising
Child Network. http://raisingchildren.net.au/
Cached(Australia) Limited.

Renata, R. (2014). How to Set Up a Classroom for
Autistic Students. Classroom. http://www.ehow.
com/how_7760988_set-up-classroom-autistic-
students.html

Schatall, L. (2016). Implementing a Behavior
ModificationPlan for a Student with Emotional
Behavior Disorder. Master Thesis, Graduayte
Programs in Education, Goucher College.

Sinakay, J.P. (2012). Implementation of inclusive
education in the private and public elementary
schools of La Trinidad, Benguet. Unpublished
Masters Thesis. Cordillera Career Development
College.

Stöppler, M.C. (2014). Hyperactivity Symptom
Checker: Symptoms & Signs Index.
Medicinenet.com. http://www.medicinenet.com/
hyperactivitysymptoms.htm

Strayhorn, J.M., & Strain, P.S. (1986). Social and
language skills for preventive mental health: What,
how, who and when. In P.S. Strain, M.J. Guralnick
& H. Walker (Eds.), Children’s Social Behavior:
Development, Assessment and Modifications. New
York: Academic Press.

Swiezy, N. (1999). Changing behavior & teaching
new skills. Adapted from Disability Solutions,
3, (5-6). https://www.kennedykrieger.org/stories
/changing-behavior-teaching-new-skills

Total Spectrum (2018). Why Routine is Important
to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Total Spectrum. https://www.totalspectrumcare.
com/why-routine-is-important-to-children-with-
autism-spectrum-disorder/

Webster, J. (2015). Behavior Contracts to
Support Good Behavior. ThoughtCo. https://www.
thoughtco.com/behavior-contracts-support-
good-behavior-3110683