Towards a holistic model of academic achievement in autism

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Autistic pupils face many barriers to learning and achievement, and as aresult academic achievement is often lower than expected. Understandinghow to support achievement for these pupils can only come through bytaking holistic multi-level approach (e.g. looking at individual andenvironmental factors). Crucially, work in this area must be shaped andguided by those for whom it is most important - autistic people, parents,educational professionals (teachers and educational psychologists [EPs]).The aim of my PhD research is to develop and empirically test a holisticmodel for understanding achievement in ASC which is co-produced withkey stakeholders. The proposed research will be carried out in threephases, using a multi-informant and mixed-method approach. In phase 1,I will determine what a holistic model of achievement should look like byqualitative and quantitative studies with autistic people, parents, teachersand EPs taking forward an initial framework developed by McDougal etal.[1]. In phase 2, I will identify measures for use in empirical testing,including developing and validating any new measures needed. In phase3, I will empirically test the model with a large representative sample ofautistic pupils, their parents and their teachers. The support of mycollaborative partner will be central throughout the PhD. This research willprovide scientific and practical advances for supporting achievement inautistic pupils, but it will have much broader benefits and impacts with thewider school population, and especially for neurodivergent pupils.