Leading Systems Change to Support Autistic Students

Abstract

As the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) continues to rise, educators will be tasked with supporting an increasing number of students with diverse educational needs. Unfortunately, educators report being inadequately trained and unprepared to support autistic students. Although numerous evidence-based practices for ASD exist, many have limited evidence of efficacy in typical school settings and they are seldom adopted and implemented by educators. This chapter provides a guide for bringing evidence-based practices for ASD into schools from a systems-level perspective. First, current evidence-based practices for ASD are reviewed. Next, we outline strategies for engaging stakeholders throughout the intervention process. Additionally, we provide guidance on effective strategies for training educators and review methods for promoting, improving, and sustaining implementation of evidence-based practices. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of implications for future research and practice.