Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ANKARA UNIVERSITESI EGITIM BILIMLERI FAKULTESI OZEL EGITIM DERGISI-ANKARA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES JOURNAL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, cilt.18, sa.2, ss.225-252, 2017 (ESCI)
The objective of this research is the investigation of the changes in the communication skills of an individual with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participating in the peer-mediated adapted physical activity (PMAPA) program. One individual with an ASD diagnosis and three peers with typical development (TD) participated in the research which was designed in the model of a case study. In the research, a total of 21 training sessions, including 3 free activity sessions and 18 PMAPA sessions were held with the individual with ASD and 3 peers with TD. In the PMAPA sessions, 29 different adapted physical activities were performed as peer-mediated. 6 sessions of peer training process were held with 3 peers with TD prior to the PMAPA sessions. All sessions carried out throughout the research were recorded with a video camera. Research data were obtained using various data collection tools (observation form, semi-structured interview forms, field notes and reflective journal). According to the research findings, it was determined that the individual with ASD positively increased eye contact, joint interest, initiating communication and responding to communication initiations during PMAPA program. It was detected that these positive changes observed in the communicational skills continued in the follow-up measurement obtained 3 weeks after the research. As a result, the impression was gained that the PMAPA program had a positive effect on the communication skills of the individual with ASD.