Effects of gesture-based match-to-sample instruction via virtual reality technology for Chinese students with autism spectrum disorders.

Effective strategies to address academic performance are critical to students with disabilities in inclusive settings. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of using gesture-based instruction via Leap Motion-aided virtual reality (VR) technology to teach matching skills to school-aged students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in China. Three participants with ASD from general education schools participated in this study. A multiple probe design across participants was used. The results indicated that all participants acquired the target match-to-sample skills and maintained the acquired skills at a high level for up to 12 weeks. Results of this study provide important implications to special education and general education teachers working with students with ASD. © The British Society of Developmental Disabilities 2019.