TEACHING ABA THERAPY, PECS AND EDUCATIONAL GAMES TO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

This study explores the effectiveness of three instructional methods–Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and educational games–in teaching mathematics to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there remains a lack of structured methodologies for teaching specialized subjects, such as mathematics, to students with autism. This research employed a comparative case study approach with three seven-year-old autistic students to evaluate the impact of each method on their engagement, understanding, and completion of math tasks. Findings indicated that each approach contributed uniquely to overcoming the students' challenges in mathematics. ABA therapy provided a structured, reinforcement-based learning environment that enhanced task completion; PECS utilized visual communication, aligning with autistic students' strengths as visual learners; and educational games successfully sustained motivation and engagement. The results suggest that incorporating a combination of these methods significantly improves the learning experience and math skills of autistic students. The study recommends that educators adopt these evidencebased practices to foster a more inclusive and effective learning environment for students with ASD. Further research is recommended to examine the long-term impact of these methods across different subject areas and educational settings.