An Examination of How Sign Language Affects the Behaviors of Students with Autisim in a Vocational Setting

Purpose of the Study:\ud Research suggests that students with severe disabilities, particularly autism, learn to use sign language for many reasons. Prior research on using sign language with students with autism suggest that although the participants were responsive to the interventions, they seemed to lack the support needed to generalize skills beyond the classroom where the direct instruction occurred.\ud The purpose of this study is to determine how the use of sign language affects students with autism in a vocational setting in the areas of behavior and communication.\ud Procedure:\ud A single subject research method in which a single researcher may investigate multiple subjects within one study is utilized. It follows a basic AB model in which a baseline data was collected, and then data collected again after the intervention was introduced. In addition to these quantitative methods of data collection, qualitative methods such as structured student observations and field notes were also utilized.\ud Findings:\ud It was found that the intervention provided the students with the tools to not only assist them in maintaining appropriate work behavior in a vocational setting, but also allowed for them to be better communicators within that setting.Conclusions:\ud By incorporating the use of sign language into an existing verbal prompt system as a way for the students to appropriately access the environment in which they worked. Evidence ofthis is found in the increase of positive statements and interactions that occurred with both students while in their vocational setting after the intervention was introduced