MODELLING EDUCATIONAL AND FAMILY INTERACTIONS IN AUTISM SUPPORT USING SYSTEM DYNAMICS

This study applies a System Dynamics approach to model how educational and family systems interact over time to influence autism support outcomes. Autism inclusion relies on sustained collaboration between teachers and caregivers, yet existing studies often treat these domains separately and linearly. The present model integrates both domains to capture feedback-driven behaviour, adaptation, and time delays that affect Individualized Education Plan (IEP) implementation. Key variables include teacher competence, inclusion policy strength, learning resource availability, parental education, emotional stability, and home–school coordination. Using Vensim DSS, the system was simulated over a ten-year period with parameter values derived from empirical literature. Under baseline conditions, Educational Support Capacity rose from 0.45 to 0.53 (+17.8%), Family Support Capacity from 0.50 to 0.58 (+16.0%), and overall IEP Implementation Effectiveness improved from 0.47 to 0.55 (+17.0%). When isolated interventions were introduced, educational enhancement produced a 26% gain in teacher capacity but limited overall improvement (IEP +20%), while family empowerment increased family capacity by 30% yet plateaued at 22% IEP improvement. The combined intervention yielded the strongest outcome, raising IEP Implementation Effectiveness by approximately 38% relative to baseline. Sensitivity analysis identified Parental Engagement Rate and Teacher Training Effectiveness as the most influential parameters, with ±20% variation in either producing an 18–22% change in system output. The results indicate that inclusion outcomes emerge from co-evolution rather than independent progress. Coordinated investments in teacher development and caregiver engagement produce synergistic, self-reinforcing improvement, while unbalanced efforts risk stagnation. Sustainable autism support therefore depends on maintaining equilibrium between institutional readiness and family resilience, guided by adaptive feedback and continuous communication.