Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2026
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
William J Sweeney
Abstract
Few intervention studies address the needs of young adults with high‑functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as they transition toward adulthood. This study used a single‑subject multiple‑baseline design across participants and skills to evaluate the effects of a modified Coach in the Kitchen curriculum paired with Behavioral Skills Training (BST) on the acquisition of kitchen safety behaviors. Three adults with high‑functioning autism were taught task‑analyzed steps for safe use of a kitchen peeler, knife, and hot liquids. Instruction incorporated modeling, rehearsal, feedback, prompting, and strategies for generalization and maintenance. Performance was measured as the percentage of safety steps correctly completed during cooking tasks. Across all participants, BST produced immediate and substantial improvements in accuracy and independence for each targeted skill. Findings support the effectiveness of BST in promoting functional independence and daily living skills for individuals with high‑functioning autism and highlight its potential value in transition‑to‑adulthood programming.
Subject Categories
Accessibility | Curriculum and Instruction | Education
Keywords
Autism, Behavioral Skills Training, High Functioning Autism, Kitchen Safety
Number of Pages
147
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
Groeneweg, Ryan Michael, "EACHING KITCHEN SAFETY USING A MODIFIED COACH IN THE KITCHEN CURRICULUM PAIRED WITH BEHAVIORAL SKILLS TRAINING PROCEDURE WITH YOUNG ADULTS WITH HIGH FUNCTIONING AUTISM" (2026). Dissertations and Theses. 417.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/417