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

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.