Survey heightens concern about pandemics impact on education of students with autism

Kessler Foundation scientists conducted an online survey of parents of school-aged children to compare the effects of pandemic-related school closures on autistic vs neurotypical students. Their findings indicate that children on the autism spectrum are at greater risk for negative educational outcomes.

The article was published open access on November 23, 2021, by Frontiers in Education. The authors are Helen Genova, Ph.D., Aditi Arora, Ph.D., and Amanda Botticello, Ph.D., MPH, of Kessler Foundation.

Using the COVID-19 Adolescent Symptom and Psychological Questionnaire, survey data were collected from May 2020 to August 2020 from parents/guardians of school-aged children—autistic and neurotypical—aged 4 to 15 years. Final sample was N=250, including respondents with neurotypical children (65%), and those with autistic children (35%).

The survey revealed differences in the psychological impact of the pandemic on neurotypical and autistic children, as reported by their parents. Overall, parents of autistic children were more likely to report negative effects of the pandemic. For neurotypical children, being isolated from friends was the most negative experience; for autistic children, disruption of their routine schedule was the most negative.

While neurotypical children turned to virtual experiences to connect socially, autistic children were less likely to participate in virtual experiences. This finding has implications for the shift to online delivery of education, medical treatment, and therapy precipitated by the pandemic. “Children on the autism spectrum may benefit less from virtual services,” noted Dr. Genova. “While remote delivery of educational and therapy services may be a convenient way for schools and facilities to remain open when in-person attendance carries risks, the long-term negative effects for children on the autism spectrum may be significant. To help them continue to achieve their educational goals, autistic children may need alternative ways to keep pace with their peers.”

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