ERIC Number: EJ1136100
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1547-1888
EISSN: N/A
The Language Question: Considering Three Somali American Students with Autism
Baker, Diana
Multiple Voices for Ethnically Diverse Exceptional Learners, v17 n1 p20-38 Spr 2017
Little research addresses the experiences of students with autism living in multilingual families. This multiple case study project examines the language-development-related knowledge and beliefs of paired mothers and educators of three Somali American boys with autism. Data include serial interviews, observations, and analysis of educational documents. Five distinct themes emerged from this study: (a) individuals with autism benefit from exposure to multiple languages, (b) the belief that multilingualism can be confusing for individuals with autism, (c) families value home language exposure, (d) educators are uncertain about providing language recommendations, and (e) information about students' multilingual context is virtually absent from educational documents and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. With these findings in mind, implications for practice are discussed.
Descriptors: Autism, Individualized Education Programs, Meetings, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), Case Studies, Males, Interviews, Immigrants, Mother Attitudes, Observation, Native Language, Foreign Countries, Teacher Attitudes, Special Education, Pervasive Developmental Disorders
Division for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners, Council for Exceptional Children. 615 E 52nd Street Suite 347, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64110. Tel: 816-235-2401; Fax: 816-235-2260; e-mail: umkcmultiple@umkc.edu; Web site: http://multiplevoicesjournal.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Somalia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A