A Brief Report on Teacher Mask Wearing and Learning in Children with ASD

Authors

  • Makayla Heisler, M.S., BCBA (Author) Institute for Child Development Binghamton University image/svg+xml
    Makayla Heisler, M.S., BCBA, is currently the Coordinator of Behavioral Health and Training at the Institute for Child Development at Binghamton University. Ms. Heisler has expertise in Applied Behavior Analysis, special education support, the Early Start Denver Model, and behavioral skills training. Her interests include improving learning efficiency for autistic youth; provider training; and, multidisciplinary data-based collaboration.
  • Jennifer Gillis Mattson, Ph. D., BCBA-D (Author) Institute for Child Development Binghamton University
    Jennifer Gillis Mattson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at Binghamton University and Co-Director of the Institute for Child Development. Dr. Gillis Mattson's research interests are in the areas of school absenteeism, wellness of autistic individuals, service providers, and families, and inclusive practices in school and community settings.
  • Rachel N. S. Cavalari, Ph. D., BCBA-D (Author) Institute for Child Development Binghamton University
    Rachel Cavalari, Ph. D., BCBA-D, is a licensed psychologist and licensed behavior analyst who presently serves as the Director of the Children’s Unit for Treatment and Evaluation at the Institute for Child Development and Director of Diagnostic Services at the ICD Child & Adolescent Diagnostic and Consultation Clinic. Dr. Cavalari's research expertise and interests include safety and supervision for autistic individuals as well as family training, systems support, and mental and physical well-being of autistic individuals and their caregivers.
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.530
There is a rich literature on effective instructional practices for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). When some schools resumed in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, mask wearing was required by teachers, therapists, and students. Given limited literature on the importance of attending to the mouth during interactions for children with ASD, it was unclear if wearing a mask that covered the mouth would impact learning. A brief systematic assessment was conducted to examine the impact of a mask on learning in four children with ASD. Results showed that mask wearing did not appear to impact learning.

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There are 8 references in total.
Heisler, M., Mattson, J. G., & Cavalari, R. N. S. (2024). A Brief Report on Teacher Mask Wearing and Learning in Children with ASD. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 18(3), 50-59. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.530

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Article Information

  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted August 17, 2024
  • Published October 15, 2024
  • Issue Fall 2023
  • Section Articles
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