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Improving vision awareness in autism services: Evaluation of a dedicated education programme for support practitioners
Author(s) -
Long Joseph J.,
Butchart Maggie,
Brown Michael,
Bain Janice,
McMillan Anne,
Karatzias Thanos
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12330
Subject(s) - autism , psychology , focus group , medical education , visual impairment , low vision , service (business) , applied psychology , medicine , nursing , developmental psychology , optometry , psychiatry , marketing , business , economy , economics
Background The research reported here sought to evaluate whether a dedicated education programme in vision awareness improved the knowledge and skills of autism support practitioners in identifying visual impairment in autistic people with intellectual disabilities and providing better support to those individuals identified as visually impaired. Methods Researchers undertook a mixed methods evaluation. A survey questionnaire was devised and administered before and after training and focus groups were undertaken in order to gain qualitative data relating how practitioners implemented their learning in practice. Results Knowledge confidence and practice confidence scores of participants were significantly improved by the programme, which maintained its impact one year on. Practitioners reported increased access to optometry, changes to support practice and improvements to service environments as a result of the training. Conclusion Autism support practitioners’ skills in identifying and supporting people with visual impairments were demonstrably enhanced through dedicated vision training.