Executive Summary
Autism has increased ten times in prevalence over the last twenty years. Although autism is not fatal,
this disorder affects an individual’s relationships and abilities to function within society. Researchers
have concluded that treating individuals with autism is always better than no treatment. However, no
definitive treatment type has been determined. I propose to remedy the problem of inconclusive
treatment techniques by conducting a research project in which the results will define a specific
treatment or technique that is advantageous in treating individuals with autism, particularly in children,
which will better enable them for independence later in life.
My proposed project will be conducted in cooperation with the Utah State University Autism Support
Services: Education, Research and Training (ASSERT) Program within the Center for Persons with
Disabilities department. I will conduct all the research within ASSERT’s on campus classroom of 10
preschoolers and their families. Over the course of the 2012 fall semester I will implement multiple case
studies involving different learning styles with children with autism. I will also conduct interviews with
educators and parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Staff of the USU ASSERT program will
also assist in conducting case studies and applying different techniques within the classroom. The
results I discover through this research will provide valuable information for mainstream society,
educators and parents who work with children with autism, as well as open doors to numerous children
and adults suffering from autism in providing them the opportunity to further their independence.
This project will require a minimum amount of $1,000 for teaching supplies and various classroom
needs. I am requesting $500, and the Center for Persons with Disabilities has also been asked to provide
matching support of $500 in funding this project, resulting in a total request for $1,000. Future funding
and management of this project will be met through volunteers and the staff of the ASSERT program.
The ASSERT program has been operating since 2003; the goals and operation of this program
correspond with the goals of this project proposal. ASSERT offers the tools and people needed to carry
out this research.
Statement of Needs
Research has found that 90% of all children with autism grow into adulthood with persisting social
deficits. I believe this is due to lack of proper education techniques. Most education systems only offer
one teaching strategy for children with autism. In a study done at the Albert Einstein College of
Medicine examining participants over
Employed
time without specific treatment, it was
in sheltered
found that only 29% of participating
workshops
14%
subjects were able to achieve normal
oral language skills, 24% achieved
Employed
Language
average comprehension, and only 9%
in the open
Fluency
were employed in the open market.
market
29%
9%
14% were high functioning enough to be
employed in sheltered workshops. A
Living in
different study stated that of adults who
residential
were diagnosed with autism in their
placement
Comprehension
youth, only a minority ever achieved
24%
24%
independence, and most still relied
heavily on their families.
Although these statistics may seem
dismal, there is hope. There is an
increase in semi-independent living arrangements. Above all there is optimism in that as technology
continues to grow, so will development in teaching methods and opportunities for children with autism
to grow into more independent adults. My proposal aims to do just that, incorporate technology and
innovative methods to determine the most useful tools in developing autistic independency. My project
will combine different learning styles and experienced educators to determine the most effective
techniques in teaching children with autism. Ten students will participate in this project, and they will
gain knowledge through auditory, hands on, and visual teaching techniques. Results from this project
can be used as a model for other projects in similar realms. I expect this project can be used by any
research regarding learning disabilities and the like to represent the importance of education within a
specified field.
My project will address a growing need. Autism is escalating in prevalence with a 57% increase from
2002 to 2006, and that is just in the U.S. alone. With such a rapid rise it is important that we meet the
needs of both individuals diagnosed with autism and their families. My project will better meet this
demand through hands on research and personal assessment as opposed to observation. Although
results will be personal to each student, results will be applicable to a broader spectrum of autistic
patients.
Project Description

Objectives
The results of this project will develop a new curriculum in the Cache Valley area within the realm of
special needs education, specifically the education of children with autism. This project will also
determine and publish specific teaching methods that are found to be the most effective.

Methods
My project will begin with interviews of teachers in the USU ASSERT program, followed by interviews
with the parents of the 10 children who will be participating in the project. Subsequently I will
conference with teachers and ASSERT staff in discussing and planning the various teaching methods that
will be applied in the classroom. The hub of this project will be working with the 10 preschool age
children with autism, and testing different methods based on auditory, visual, and hands on learning.
Upon completion of in class implementation, I will assess each student’s development.
This project will begin in the fall of 2012, in class implementation will occur throughout the semester,
and results will be analyzed in the following months. The overall timetable is estimated to be six
months. There are a variety of different ways this research could be conducted, but it is my belief that
application is always the most efficient type of research. The planned work for this project will allow for
more accurate results.

Staffing/Administration
This project will be staffed mainly by myself and the staff of the USU ASSERT program, much of the work
they will be doing will be in congruence with the work they already do. The staff of the ASSERT program
are all scholars and enthusiasts in the field of developmental disorders. Many staff members have
completed their own research in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Their credentials make them
the best resource for conducting my project.

Evaluation
Assessment will include both overall improvement and growth within each applied method. Results will
be determined through administered tests, observation, and information gained from interviews. The
techniques with the most positive outcome will then be permanently applied in the classroom, and
available to other educational programs in the area.

Sustainability
After the grant period, my proposal will not require future funding. All of the teaching materials I obtain
will be the latest models, and will not go out of date for some time. Teachers are paid on salary through
the university and this proposal is not requesting any sort of stipend or compensation.
Organization Information
My project will be conducted with participation through the USU Center for Persons with Disabilities and
the Autism Support Services: Education, Research and Training program. The ASSERT program’s goals
and mission coincide with my proposed project in that they aim to support individuals with Autism
Spectrum Disorder, their families, and teachers and professionals who work with individuals with ASD
through research and application. The ASSERT program is staffed by 8 highly qualified team members.
Current research includes areas such as video modeling and video-based instruction, the impact of
error-correction procedures on rates of learning, methods of promoting spontaneous speech and
question asking behavior, and activity schedules to promote independence. The last area in promoting
independence in particular caters very well to this project’s objective.
Budget
Funding for this project will be used for classroom and teaching supplies such as computer software,
textbooks, copies and prints, tape players and cassettes for auditory learning, and other various needs.
Below is a budget outline including funding from both your agency and matching support from the
University’s Center for Persons with Disabilities.
Requested Funding Proposed Budget
Budget Period Start
Budget Period End
Personnel
Aug-12
20-Feb-12
ASSERT Staff
No Salary
Requested
No Salary
Requested
No Salary
Requested
Supplies for a classroom of 10
students
Computers
Computer Software
Textbooks
Learning Games
Cassette Tapes
Tape Players
Scissors, glue, tape, etc.
Treats and incentives for students
Books
Copies and Prints
Provided by school
$200.00
$70.00
$100.00
$20.00
$200.00
$90.00
$100.00
$120.00
$100.00
Travel
No Travel Required
Total Amount Requested
$1,000
Ann Marie Hyde
Thomas Higbee (Director of the
ASSERT Program)
Conclusion
There is a growing need for education for children with autism; my project will provide the tools for
educators to increase teaching techniques for these individuals within the Cache Valley area. After the
interviews and case studies are conducted, evaluation will allow for implementation of the most
effective techniques. These techniques will be applied in the classroom, and educators will continue to
study and employ methods based on information found through this project. Funding of my proposed
project will benefit not only the ASSERT program, but more importantly the children and their families
that face the struggles of life with autism. This project will influence these children and have a positive
impact on their futures by providing them with the skills to become more self sufficient.