Developing mirror self awareness in students with autism spectrum disorder.

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Special Education

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition impacting social interaction and communication.
• Self-awareness is a crucial developmental milestone that can be challenging for individuals with ASD.
• Existing interventions for ASD often focus on social skills, with less emphasis on self-awareness development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a novel teaching methodology and curriculum to enhance positive self-awareness in students with ASD.
• To investigate the efficacy of Joint Attention (JA) strategies, specifically Mirror Self Awareness Development (MSAD), in fostering self-awareness.
• To establish a framework for measuring increases in self-awareness among students with ASD.

Main Methods:

• A curriculum incorporating JA strategies was developed, focusing on mirror self-recognition.
• Students with ASD participated in Mirror Self Awareness Development (MSAD) JA activities and non-MSAD JA activities.
• Student engagement and preference for MSAD activities were recorded.
• A four-step framework was developed to quantify changes in self-awareness.

Main Results:

• Students with ASD showed a preference for MSAD JA activities over non-MSAD JA activities.
• MSAD JA activities successfully facilitated the teaching of reflected mirror images and self-recognition.
• The study yielded a quantifiable four-step framework for measuring increases in student self-awareness.
• Positive self-awareness gains were observed in students participating in the MSAD program.

Conclusions:

• The developed MSAD teaching methodology is effective in increasing positive self-awareness in students with ASD.
• JA strategies, particularly MSAD, offer a promising avenue for intervention in ASD.
• The established framework provides a valuable tool for assessing self-awareness development in this population.
• The findings contribute to a broader understanding of the developmental trajectory of 'Self' in neurodevelopmental disorders.