A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of PhD at the University of Warwick Permanent WRAP URL: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/141649/ Copyright and reuse: This thesis is made available online and is protected by original copyright. Please scroll down to view the document itself. Please refer to the repository record for this item for information to help you to cite it. Our policy information is available from the repository home page. For more information, please contact the WRAP Team at: [email protected] warwick.ac.uk/lib-publications Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Context of Arab Countries and Cultures. Barah Alallawi Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education and Psychology University of Warwick Centre for Educational Development, Appraisal and Research (CEDAR) February 2020 i Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures .................................................................................................................. v Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................... vi Declarations ................................................................................................................... vii Summary ...................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1: An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Context of Arab Countries and Cultures .................................................................................................. 1 An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder ............................................................. 2 An Introduction to Arab Countries and Cultures .......................................................... 3 The Arab Family Systems ............................................................................................. 6 ASD in Arab Countries and Cultures .......................................................................... 11 Structure of the Thesis ................................................................................................ 25 Chapter 2: A Systematic Scoping Review of Social, Educational, and Psychological Research on Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their Family Members in Arab Countries and Cultures ................................................................. 30 Abstract ....................................................................................................................... 31 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 32 Methods ....................................................................................................................... 38 Results ......................................................................................................................... 44 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 123 Chapter 3: Support Needs of Arab Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Living in the United Kingdom ................................................................... 128 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 129 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 130 Methods ..................................................................................................................... 134 Results ....................................................................................................................... 143 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 149 Chapter 4: ‘I am a big thumbs-up with TEN-ID’ Special Educators’ Experiences of a Numeracy Curriculum for Pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder ............... 152 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 153 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 154 Methods ..................................................................................................................... 158 Results ....................................................................................................................... 164 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 179 ii Chapter 5: Parent Mediated Numeracy Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Arab Families Living in the UK .......................................... 183 Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 184 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 185 Evaluation Method and Intervention Description ..................................................... 190 Evaluation findings ................................................................................................... 198 Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 205 Chapter 6: General Discussion .................................................................................. 207 Summary of Thesis Findings .................................................................................... 208 Contribution of the Thesis ......................................................................................... 211 Implications for Practice ........................................................................................... 213 Limitations and Future Research .............................................................................. 229 Personal Reflections .................................................................................................. 238 Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 242 References .................................................................................................................... 243 Appendices ................................................................................................................... 302 Appendix A: Protocol of the systematic scoping review ......................................... 303 Appendix B: Survey- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ....................................................................................................................... 307 Appendix C: Survey (Arabic version)- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK........................................................................................ 324 Appendix D: Participants information sheet (Arabic version)- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ....................................................... 340 Appendix E: Consent form (Arabic version)- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ......................................................................... 343 Appendix F: Ethics approval- support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ......................................................................................................... 344 Appendix G: Recruitment flyer- Support need of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ......................................................................................................... 345 Appendix H: Recruitment flyer (Arabic version)- Support need of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ......................................................................... 346 Appendix I: Recruitment email- Support need of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ......................................................................................................... 347 Appendix J: Reminder email- Support need of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ......................................................................................................... 348 iii Appendix K: Reminder email before closing the survey- Support need of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ....................................................... 349 Appendix L: Participants information sheet (English version)- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ....................................................... 350 Appendix M: Consent form (English version)- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ......................................................................... 355 Appendix N: Participants information sheet (Somali version)- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ....................................................... 356 Appendix O: Consent form (Somali version)- Support needs of Arab families of children with ASD living in the UK ........................................................................