Editorial Type: research-article
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Online Publication Date: 01 Mar 2017

The Language Question: Considering Three Somali American Students With Autism

Article Category: Research Article
Page Range: 20 – 38
DOI: 10.56829/1547-1888.17.1.20
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Little research addresses the experiences of students with autism living in multilingual families. This multiple case study project examines the language-development-related knowledge and beliefs of paired mothers and educators of three Somali American boys with autism. Data include serial interviews, observations, and analysis of educational documents. Five distinct themes emerged from this study: (a) individuals with autism benefit from exposure to multiple languages, (b) the belief that multilingualism can be confusing for individuals with autism, (c) families value home language exposure, (d) educators are uncertain about providing language recommendations, and (e) information about students' multilingual context is virtually absent from educational documents and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. With these findings in mind, implications for practice are discussed.

Copyright: Copyright 2017, Division for Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Exceptional Learners of the Council for Exceptional Children 2017

Contributor Notes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Diana Baker is an Assistant Professor of Education, Department of Education, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Her current work focuses on culturally and linguistically diverse students with autism and the bilingual services available to them.

Requests for reprints and correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Diana Baker, Department of Education, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, 300 Pulteney Street, Geneva, NY 14456. Email: baker@hws.edu
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