Including restricted interests benefits autistic students

Including restricted interests benefits autistic students
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have interests restricted to particular topics.  New research from the University of Strathclyde has found that accommodating these interests into classroom teaching leads to gains in educational achievement and/or social engagement.
Restricted Interests (RIs) are a component of the formal diagnosis for ASD, and teachers can be faced with the dilemma of whether to accommodate these interests or keep them out of the classroom. There are differing views about whether RIs are harmful or helpful, on one hand potentially obstructing opportunities to learn and peer interaction, but on the other hand generating self-motivated learning, and improving motivation, cognitive skills, and social-emotional well-being.
The authors of this study examined all peer-reviewed studies of teaching children with ASD with RIs published between 1990 and 2014. Of 91 children assessed in 20 published studies, all reported gains in educational achievement and/or social engagement. Negative consequences were limited to a decrease in task performance in one child and a transient increase in perseverative behaviors in two children.
The authors conclude that the RIs of children with ASD should be incorporated into the mainstream curriculum where reasonable to do so.

Johns Hopkins University 

Research in Brief

News Blast

Views: 36

▶ Reply to This

JOIN SL 2.0

SUBSCRIBE TO

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP 2.0

Feedspot named School Leadership 2.0 one of the "Top 25 Educational Leadership Blogs"

"School Leadership 2.0 is the premier virtual learning community for school leaders from around the globe."

---------------------------

 Our community is a subscription-based paid service ($19.95/year or only $1.99 per month for a trial membership)  that will provide school leaders with outstanding resources. Learn more about membership to this service by clicking one of our links below.

 

Click HERE to subscribe as an individual.

 

Click HERE to learn about group membership (i.e., association, leadership teams)

__________________

CREATE AN EMPLOYER PROFILE AND GET JOB ALERTS AT 

SCHOOLLEADERSHIPJOBS.COM

New Partnership

image0.jpeg

Mentors.net - a Professional Development Resource

Mentors.net was founded in 1995 as a professional development resource for school administrators leading new teacher induction programs. It soon evolved into a destination where both new and student teachers could reflect on their teaching experiences. Now, nearly thirty years later, Mentors.net has taken on a new direction—serving as a platform for beginning teachers, preservice educators, and

other professionals to share their insights and experiences from the early years of teaching, with a focus on integrating artificial intelligence. We invite you to contribute by sharing your experiences in the form of a journal article, story, reflection, or timely tips, especially on how you incorporate AI into your teaching

practice. Submissions may range from a 500-word personal reflection to a 2,000-word article with formal citations.

© 2026   Created by William Brennan and Michael Keany   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service