A Pilot Investigation of Accommodations for the Gross Motor Assessment of Boys on the Autism Spectrum

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/PALAESTRA-2025-V39-I1-12537

Keywords:

Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child Development, visual cues, video model

Abstract

Motor skill assessments are often modified to meet the needs children on the autism spectrum. Yet, accommodations to standardized motor skill testing have not been established and little consensus exists regarding the most appropriate or effective testing accommodations.  Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine two accommodations to motor skill assessments: (1) an acclimation period; and (2) visuals (i.e., pictures and videos). Using a sample of 10 boys on the autism spectrum between the ages of 5-12 (M = 8.86, SD = 2.2), the impact of accommodations on motor skill performance, duration of assessment, and task comprehension was analyzed visually. A descriptive analysis of the data suggests that, regardless of visual support, using accompanying visuals may help a child’s comprehension of completing motor tasks; moreover, allowing for acclimation to the testing environment may decrease the overall assessment time. Within this analysis neither an added visual cue or an acclimation period impacted the assessed performance.

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Published

2025-03-03

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Feature Articles

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