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Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities

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<strong>Education</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Autism</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Developmental</strong> <strong>Disabilities</strong>, 2010, 45(3), 440–448<br />

© Division on <strong>Autism</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Developmental</strong> <strong>Disabilities</strong><br />

Effects of Most to Least Prompt<strong>in</strong>g on Teach<strong>in</strong>g Simple<br />

Progression Swimm<strong>in</strong>g Skill for Children with <strong>Autism</strong><br />

I˙lker Yılmaz<br />

Anadolu University<br />

B<strong>in</strong>yam<strong>in</strong> Birkan<br />

Tohum <strong>Autism</strong> Foundation, I˙stanbul<br />

Ferman Konukman<br />

The College at Brockport, SUNY<br />

Mehmet Yanardag˘<br />

Anadolu University<br />

Abstract: Effects of most to least prompt<strong>in</strong>g on teach<strong>in</strong>g simple progression swimm<strong>in</strong>g skill for children with<br />

autism were <strong>in</strong>vestigated. A s<strong>in</strong>gle subject multiple basel<strong>in</strong>e model across subjects with probe conditions was<br />

used. Participants were three boys, 9 years old. Data were collected over a 10-week with session three times a week<br />

period us<strong>in</strong>g the s<strong>in</strong>gle opportunity method as an <strong>in</strong>tervention. Results <strong>in</strong>dicated that all the boys <strong>in</strong>creased their<br />

simple progression swimm<strong>in</strong>g skill significantly dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>tervention phase. In addition, participants ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

their successful skills dur<strong>in</strong>g first, second <strong>and</strong> fourth week of generalization phases. Results showed that<br />

most to least prompt<strong>in</strong>g was an effective way of <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g simple progression swimm<strong>in</strong>g skill<br />

of children with autism.<br />

<strong>Autism</strong> is a lifelong developmental disability<br />

that causes delays <strong>in</strong> verbal <strong>and</strong> nonverbal<br />

communication <strong>and</strong> social <strong>in</strong>teraction as well<br />

as exhibition of ritualistic <strong>and</strong> compulsive behaviors<br />

(Loovis & Ers<strong>in</strong>g, 1979). <strong>Autism</strong> is a<br />

bra<strong>in</strong> disorder that impairs a person’s ability<br />

to communicate, form relationships, socially<br />

<strong>in</strong>teract, <strong>and</strong> respond appropriately with<strong>in</strong> a<br />

given environment.<br />

Children with autism have severe communication,<br />

language, <strong>and</strong> social <strong>in</strong>teraction problems<br />

compared to their nondisabled peers.<br />

Children with autism have several difficulties<br />

<strong>in</strong> four general areas: Speech, language <strong>and</strong><br />

communication; relat<strong>in</strong>g people, objects,<br />

events; responses to sensory stimuli; developmental<br />

discrepancies (Houston-Wilson &<br />

Lieberman, 2003). Therefore, teach<strong>in</strong>g games<br />

<strong>and</strong> physical activity is an important necessity<br />

to improve vital social skills of children with<br />

autism (Leaf & McEach<strong>in</strong>g, 1999; Maurice,<br />

Green, & Fox, 2001).<br />

<strong>Autism</strong> is the fastest grow<strong>in</strong>g developmental<br />

disability <strong>in</strong> the nation <strong>and</strong> school districts are<br />

Correspondence concern<strong>in</strong>g this article should<br />

be addressed to I˙lker Yımaz, Anadolu University,<br />

School of Physical <strong>Education</strong> & Sports, Eskisehir,<br />

26470, TURKEY. E-mail: ilkery@anadolu.edu.tr<br />

hav<strong>in</strong>g a hard time f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g tra<strong>in</strong>ed teachers to<br />

accommodate the needs of students with the<br />

disorder (Block, Block, & Halliday, 2006).<br />

There are 1.5 million Americans who have<br />

autism <strong>and</strong> 15 million more Americans, such<br />

as family, teachers <strong>and</strong> health care workers<br />

who are <strong>in</strong>directly affected (Crollick, Mancil,<br />

& Stopka, 2006).<br />

Children with autism have several stereotypical<br />

motor behaviors (e.g., sw<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g their bodies<br />

backward <strong>and</strong> forward, play<strong>in</strong>g with their<br />

f<strong>in</strong>gers, mov<strong>in</strong>g their head <strong>in</strong> a circular motion<br />

<strong>and</strong> jump<strong>in</strong>g). These behaviors cause<br />

communication <strong>and</strong> learn<strong>in</strong>g problems for<br />

children with autism. However, it is possible to<br />

decrease these behaviors via teach<strong>in</strong>g physical<br />

activity <strong>and</strong> games (Leaf & McEach<strong>in</strong>g, 1999;<br />

Smith, 2001). Several studies found that physical<br />

activity <strong>in</strong>terventions such as jogg<strong>in</strong>g, ball<br />

throw<strong>in</strong>g, swimm<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> vigorous physical activity<br />

reduced stereotypical motor behaviors<br />

(Lev<strong>in</strong>son & Reid, 1993; Richmond, 2000;<br />

Yɹlmaz, Birkan, Konukman, & Erkan, 2005a).<br />

In addition, Sherrill (2006) <strong>in</strong>dicated that<br />

some of these stereotypical behaviors can be<br />

used to teach skills similar <strong>in</strong> behavior such as<br />

swimm<strong>in</strong>g (e.g., sw<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g their bodies backward<br />

<strong>and</strong> forward, mov<strong>in</strong>g arms up <strong>and</strong><br />

down).<br />

440 / <strong>Education</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Autism</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Developmental</strong> <strong>Disabilities</strong>-September 2010

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