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Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12

Dissertation (MA (Speech-Language Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2022.

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Other Authors: Eccles, Renata
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2023
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Eccles, Renata
author_browse Eccles, Renata
author_facet Eccles, Renata
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MA (Speech-Language Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2022.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:39:15.557Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2023
publishDateRange 2023
publishDateSort 2023
publisher University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/89259 Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12 Eccles, Renata nellytheelephant@live.co.za Kritzinger, Alta M. (Aletta Margaretha) Nell, Yvonne Inclusive education Autistic learners Assessment accommodations Stakeholders South Africa UCTD Dissertation (MA (Speech-Language Pathology))--University of Pretoria, 2022. Introduction Accommodations for assessment are important strategies to enable autistic learners to demonstrate knowledge of content learned. Examination policy guidelines direct educators and allied professionals in the recommendation of and implementation of assessment accommodations. Globally there is a paucity of information on reasonable assessment accommodations for autistic learners. There is also limited information regarding the perspectives of stakeholders for autistic learners in terms of their accommodation needs in assessment. Stakeholders, including autistic persons, can provide insight for the translation of educational policy to practice, as clinical practice and experiences can inform policy. This study described the perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in Grade 4 to 12 in South African schools. Methods Stakeholder perspectives were gathered using a researcher-designed, self-administered, web-based questionnaire in Qualtrics software. There were 92 participants across five stakeholder groups, being autistic adults, caregivers of autistic persons, educators, psychologists, speech-language therapists (SLTs), and occupational therapists (OTs). Results Results revealed that there was a limited awareness amongst respondents of the South African policy guidelines governing the implementation of assessment accommodations. The need for a wider range of assessment accommodations to provide for individual needs of learners was indicated, with specialised settings, use of noise-buffer/headphones, directions and prompts in simplified language, redundancy and use of a familiar administrator/invigilator being suggested as additional options. A wider range of assessment accommodations underpins the idea that educational programmes and practices must account for diverse learning profiles. Support of diverse learning profiles is the purpose of universal design. Universal design elements identified by respondents included, language supports, format and pre-assessment programmes. Conclusion This study contributes to the body of research on accommodating autistic learners within an inclusive environment. An expanded offering of accommodations is recommended including universal design options. Training and collaborations to improve awareness of assessment accommodations for autistic learners is recommenced. Changes to policy and practice are necessary to support the needs of the growing number of autistic learners in South African schools, and indeed all learners with communication, sensory and executive function needs. Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology MA (Speech-Language Pathology) Unrestricted 2023-02-07T13:29:03Z 2023-02-07T13:29:03Z 2023-04 2022 Dissertation * A2023 https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89259 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21936618 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Inclusive education
Autistic learners
Assessment accommodations
Stakeholders
South Africa
UCTD
Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12
title Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12
title_full Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12
title_fullStr Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12
title_full_unstemmed Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12
title_short Perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12
title_sort perspectives of stakeholders in assessment accommodations for autistic learners in grade 4 to 12
topic Inclusive education
Autistic learners
Assessment accommodations
Stakeholders
South Africa
UCTD
url https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/89259
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.21936618