Skip to main content
Log in

Promoting Collaboration Among Special Educators, Social Workers, and Families Impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders

  • ORIGINAL PAPER
  • Published:
Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects how a child behaves and communicates in social settings. Caregivers and family members of children with ASD are financially and mentally stressed as they struggle to find appropriate interventions and supportive resources. Children and youth with ASD present with complex needs that can be addressed by a multidisciplinary team of professionals in various settings. Using a multidisciplinary approach, social workers and special educators increase the effectiveness of ASD-related services offered to children and families. Special educators and social work professionals can work together to encourage increased family engagement and to improve life outcomes for children diagnosed with the disorder. The purpose of this article is to provide practical strategies that support family engagement and collaboration between social work professionals, special educators, and families affected by ASD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Able, H., Sreckovic, M. A., Schultz, T. R., Garwood, J. D., & Sherman, J. (2015). Views from the trenches: teacher and student supports needed for full inclusion of students with ASD. Teacher Education and Special Education, 38(1), 44–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0888406414558096.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altiere, M. J., & Von Kluge, S. (2009). Family functioning and coping behaviors in parents of children with autism. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 18, 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-008-9209-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrews, C. M., Darnell, J. S., McBride, T. D., & Gehlert, S. (2013). Social work and implementation of the affordable care act. Health & Social Work, 38, 67–71. https://doi.org/10.1093/hsw/hlt002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avendano, M. A., & Cho, E. (2020). Building collaborative relationships with parents: a checklist for promoting success. Teaching Exceptional Children, 52(4), 250–260. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059919892616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azad, G. F., Kim, M., Marcus, S. C., Mandell, D. S., & Sheridan, S. M. (2016). Parent-teacher communication about children with autism spectrum disorder: an examination of collaborative problem-solving. Psychology in the Schools, 53(10), 1071–1084. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21976.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Azad, G., & Mandell, D. (2016). Concerns of parents and teachers of children with autism in elementary school. Autism, 20(4), 435–441. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361315588199.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baio, J., Wiggins, L., Christensen, D. L., Maenner, M. J., Daniels, J., Warren, Z. … & Dowling, N. F. (2018). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2014. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(SS-6), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6706a1.

  • Banach, M., & Couse, L. J. (2012). Interdisciplinary co-facilitation of support groups for parents of children with autism: an opportunity for professional preparation. Social Work with Groups, 35(4), 313–329. https://doi.org/10.1080/01609513.2012.671103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, J., & O’Shaughnessy, K. (2015). Enhancing collaboration between occupational therapists and early childhood educators working with children on the autism spectrum. Early Childhood Education Journal, 43(6), 467–472. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-015-0689-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernier, R. (2012, March 20). How do we measure autism severity? Spectrum autism research news. Retrieved from https://www.spectrumnews.org/.

  • Burke, M. M., & Hodapp, R. M. (2014). Relating stress of mothers of children with developmental disabilities to family-school partnerships. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 52(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-52.1.13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buescher, A. S., Cidav, Z., Knapp, M., & Mandell, D. S. (2014). Costs of autism spectrum disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States. JAMA Pediatrics, 168(8), 721–728. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Casey, L., & Elswick, S. (2011). The social worker's role in the assessment of autism spectrum disorder. Children & Schools, 33(3), 176–183. https://doi.org/10.1093/cs/33.3.176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, D. L., Braun, K. V., Baio, J., Bilder, D., Charles, J., Constantino, J. N., …, Yeargin-Allsopp, M. (2018). Prevalence and characteristics of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years—Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2012. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary, 65(SS-13), 1–23. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6513a1.

  • Cidav, Z., Lawer, L., Marcus, S. C., & Mandell, D. S. (2013). Age related variation in health service use and associated expenditures among children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(4), 924–931.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Cidav, Z., Marcus, S. C., & Mandell, D. S. (2012). Implications of childhood autism for parental employment and earnings. Pediatrics, 129(4), 617–623.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Daniel, L. S., & Billingsley, B. S. (2010). What boys with autism spectrum disorder say about establishing and maintaining friendships. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 25(4), 220–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357610378290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ekas, N., Lickenbrock, D., & Whitman, T. (2010). Optimism, social support, and well-being in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40(10), 1274–1284. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-0986-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emmons, C., & Zager, D. (2018). Increasing collaboration self-efficacy to improve educational programming for students with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 33(2), 120–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357616686312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, D. E. (2002). Ten years on: a longitudinal study of families of children with autism. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 27(3), 215–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartley, S. L., & Schultz, H. M. (2015). Support needs of fathers and mothers of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism Developmental Disorders, 45(6), 1636–1648. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2318-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, S. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013). The impact of parenting stress: a meta-analysis of studies comparing the experience of parenting stress in parents of children with and without autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 629–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1604-y.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hendricks, D. (2011). Special education teachers serving students with autism: a descriptive study of the characteristics and self-reported knowledge and practices employed. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 35, 37–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (2004). 20 U.S.C. § 1400.

  • Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC). (2011). Core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice: report of an expert panel. Washington, DC: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2001). Crossing the quality chasm: a new health system for the 21st. Washington, DC: National Academies Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janvier, Y. M., Harris, J. F., Coffield, C. N., Louis, B., Xie, M., Cidav, Z., et al. (2016). Screening for autism spectrum disorder in underserved communities: early childcare providers as reporters. Autism, 20, 364–373. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361315585055.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klinger, L. G., Dawson, G., Barnes, K., & Crisler, M. (2014). Autism spectrum disorder. In E. J. Mash & R. A. Barkley (Eds.), Child psychopathology (3rd ed., pp. 531–572). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • LaBarbera, R. (2017). A comparison of teacher and caregiver perspectives of collaboration in the education of students with autism spectrum disorders. Teacher Education Quarterly, 44(3), 35–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lounds, J., Seltzer, M. M., Greenberg, J. S., & Shattuck, P. T. (2007). Transition and change in adolescents and young adults with autism: longitudinal effects on maternal well-being. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 112(6), 401–417. https://doi.org/10.1352/0895-8017(2007)112[401:TACIAA]2.0.CO;2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meirsschaut, M., Roeyers, H., & Warreyn, P. (2010). Parenting in families with a child with autism spectrum disorder and a typically developing child: mothers’ experiences and cognitions. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 4(4), 661–669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.01.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neely, J., Amatea, E. S., Echevarria-Doan, S., & Tanned, T. (2012). Working with families living with autism: potential contributions of marriage and family therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38, 211–226. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2011.00265.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Brien, M. (2007). Ambiguous loss in families of children with autism spectrum disorders. Family Relations, 56, 135–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Opar, A. (2017, October 17). Why children with ‘severe autism’ are overlooked by science. Spectrum autism research news. Retrieved from: https://www.spectrumnews.org/.

  • Ramisch, J. L. (2012). Marriage and family therapists working with couples who have children with autism. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 38, 305–316. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2010.00210.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rogge, N., & Janssen, J. (2019). The economic costs of autism spectrum disorder: a literature review. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(2), 2873–2900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04014-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, T. R., Able, H., Sreckovic, M. A., & White, T. J. (2016). Parent-teacher collaboration: teacher perceptions of what is needed to support students with ASD in the inclusive classroom. Teacher Education and Special Education: The Journal of the Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, 38(1), 44–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0888406414558096.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • School Social Work Guidelines (2015). Retrieved from http://ioniaisd.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/100943845/SSW%20Guidelines%20-%20August%202015%20-%20pdf.pdf

  • Shattuck, P., Narendorf, S. C., Cooper, B., Sterzing, P. R., Wagner, M., & Taylor, J. L. (2012). Postsecondary education and employment among youth with autism spectrum disorder. Pediatrics, 129, 1042–1050. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-2864.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, R. L., de Boer-Ott, S. R., & Smith-Myles, B. (2003). Inclusion of learners with autism spectrum disorders in general education settings. Topics in Language Disorders, 23(2), 116–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterzing, P. R., Shattuck, P. T., Narendorf, S. C., Wagner, M., & Cooper, B. P. (2012). Bullying involvement and autism spectrum disorders: prevalence and correlates of bullying involvement among adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, 166(11), 1058–1064. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2012.790.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tehee, E., Honan, R., & Hevey, D. (2009). Factors contributing to stress in parents of individuals with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 22, 34–42. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2008.00437.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). Digest of education statistics, 2017 (NCES 2018-070), (chap. 2). Retrieved October 21, 2019, from the National Center for Education Statistics website: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=59.

  • Weiss, J. A., & Lunsky, Y. (2011). The brief family distress scale: a measure of crisis in caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 20, 521–528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-010-9419-y.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization. (2010). Framework for action on interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Geneva: World Health Organization.

  • Zablotsky, B., Boswell, K., & Smith, C. (2012). An evaluation of school involvement and satisfaction of parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 117(4), 316–330. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-117.4.316.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicole Anthony.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

The research does not involve any human participants and/or animal.

Informed Consent

The research does not involve any human participants and/or animal.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Anthony, N., Campbell, E. Promoting Collaboration Among Special Educators, Social Workers, and Families Impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders. Adv Neurodev Disord 4, 319–324 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-020-00171-w

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-020-00171-w

Keywords

Navigation