Dissertation ideas... Autism

[samb]

Morning! I am in the final year of my early childhood studies degree. I have been studying sensory integration as a possible area but the more I research the more I think it is too specialised to individual children. I am looking at either broadening it to something such as "how using a sensory environment can help children in a mixed age setting integrate" or changing to be more specifically asd based something to do with working in partnership with parents being a help to a child with asd or support available or whether having a label of autism actually helps the child etc.... As you can see, I really don't know and am panicking quite a bit now! The reason I am going down this sort of route is my son has asd (and PDA so this area also interests me) and sensory issues, the last year I have spent fighting for support and sorting his ehcp etc and so really I feel in a place to passionately delve into it. However I am struggling with the reality of dissertation writing, data collection etc. I am distance learning and so no one to talk to and my tutor is taking so long to respond to my emails I am going insane! I have a tutorial next Monday to discuss my proposal which needs to be written and handed in in 6 weeks. Help!

[Simona]

Morning! I am in the final year of my early childhood studies degree. I have been studying sensory integration as a possible area but the more I research the more I think it is too specialised to individual children. I am looking at either broadening it to something such as "how using a sensory environment can help children in a mixed age setting integrate" or changing to be more specifically asd based something to do with working in partnership with parents being a help to a child with asd or support available or whether having a label of autism actually helps the child etc.... As you can see, I really don't know and am panicking quite a bit now! The reason I am going down this sort of route is my son has asd (and PDA so this area also interests me) and sensory issues, the last year I have spent fighting for support and sorting his ehcp etc and so really I feel in a place to passionately delve into it. However I am struggling with the reality of dissertation writing, data collection etc. I am distance learning and so no one to talk to and my tutor is taking so long to respond to my emails I am going insane! I have a tutorial next Monday to discuss my proposal which needs to be written and handed in in 6 weeks. Help!

Wonderful subject Samb and a very topical one too....I come across lots of literature about a sensory environment...I think they are doing a study on this?

Have you thought of approaching your tutor if you have one even though you are studying long distance?...do you have a mentor?
the other suggestion is to approach the Autism Society for more information

If I see more articles on the subject I will post them for you
Good luck

[samb]

Thanks simona that would be really helpful. I have bought masses of books about sensory integration but they're all pointing toward the individual sensory needs of a child rather than environmental for the whole group if that makes sense? I am getting in a bit of a flap about it all. I don't know if I should show how a child with sensory difficulties can integrate using sensory integration into mainstream/ childminding settings or if that's going to end up being too specific etc. I haven't been allocated a tutor for the dissertation yet so just have one for the overall module I am trying to speak to. I will be allocated one next week which will be helpful but need to have specified my area / question by then to be allocated the correct one if that makes sense?

[mama2three]

maybe focusing on the reggio approach as their ethos is all about a sensory environment for all children?

[Simona]

Thanks simona that would be really helpful. I have bought masses of books about sensory integration but they're all pointing toward the individual sensory needs of a child rather than environmental for the whole group if that makes sense? I am getting in a bit of a flap about it all. I don't know if I should show how a child with sensory difficulties can integrate using sensory integration into mainstream/ childminding settings or if that's going to end up being too specific etc. I haven't been allocated a tutor for the dissertation yet so just have one for the overall module I am trying to speak to. I will be allocated one next week which will be helpful but need to have specified my area / question by then to be allocated the correct one if that makes sense?

You have set yourself a very challenging task and I hope you will find all the right information...I like your chosen topic!!
The environment is in many cases of autism very important...I had a child with autism who functioned very well in my preschool but at school, in a more formal environment the child struggled...it is so very individual to each child and where they are on the spectrum

Mam2three gave useful advice to look into Reggio...the environment for them is the '3rd teacher' so yes and they also have a specific way they look at special needs ...or as they called them 'special rights'
I researched Reggio for my degree but difficult to find anything on special needs.

I would contact the National Autistic Society as they will send you lots of literature for you to reference to.

These are some of the articles I found...as I said I come across lots of discussions on autism all the time

Research Autism | Interventions | Multi-Sensory Environments

Creating the Optimum Home Environment | Autism Article


Lots of info here
autism and sensory environments - Google Scholar

Hope this helps...I will come back for more....keep us posted!

[Smiley]

Fascinationg area and I think it could be an excellent dissertation.

I've added some links, apologies if you've already discovered them.

Sensory Processing Disorder Explained | SPD Foundation

http://www.caot.ca/otnow/sept09/simulation.pdf

SI Network - What is SI?

Sensory Integration

This book has sections about sensory enabling environments. I referred to it during my recent dissertation about active learning and loose parts.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...onment&f=false

Have you considered looking at Elizabeth Jarmen and her communication friendly spaces?
She is very knowledgeable and lovely to talk to
Welcome to Elizabeth Jarman Training

[samb]

Thank you ... I spent ages going through the links last night and I've decided to definitely stick with the idea of a sensory environment helping children integrate... Now I need to work out my "question" ... So the dissertation needs to begin with a question I intend to answer by data collection... I don't really know how I could "measure" if children are more or less integrated with or without a sensory environment? Could I ask the children what helps them to know what is happening next for example and give them a camera to capture the things that help them? For example I use visual timetables and I also put music on when it's tidy up time for example...? We sit on a soft mat for story time before nap?

I have a tutorial Monday and then I will be assigned a tutor to guide me with my specific dissertation based on my area etc.

I feel out of my depth in terms of getting my head fully around what the expectation is. I'm only part time so this year I am just doing my dissertation and 1 module so it should feel manageable but I'm still in panic mode as I feel I should know what I'm doing by this stage?!

[Simona]

Thank you ... I spent ages going through the links last night and I've decided to definitely stick with the idea of a sensory environment helping children integrate... Now I need to work out my "question" ... So the dissertation needs to begin with a question I intend to answer by data collection... I don't really know how I could "measure" if children are more or less integrated with or without a sensory environment? Could I ask the children what helps them to know what is happening next for example and give them a camera to capture the things that help them? For example I use visual timetables and I also put music on when it's tidy up time for example...? We sit on a soft mat for story time before nap?

I have a tutorial Monday and then I will be assigned a tutor to guide me with my specific dissertation based on my area etc.

I feel out of my depth in terms of getting my head fully around what the expectation is. I'm only part time so this year I am just doing my dissertation and 1 module so it should feel manageable but I'm still in panic mode as I feel I should know what I'm doing by this stage?!

Brilliant news that you are going to stay with the subject.

Yes ...your dissertation with have to be based on a question.
I remember very well formulating mine but it didn't sound very good....the tutor came along and tweaked it and it all made sense !
I hope that will happen to you too.

keep us posted !

[samb]

Positive tutorial this morning and also I have found some useful journal articles from the online library at the university too. All the books I have bought are specifically sensory integration rather than enhancing the sensory environment which is what I think I am going to end up looking at so will have a look at other books now too. - Need a bigger bookshelf lol! I'm sure I will be back to pick brains soon!