Effects of graphic novel approach on reading comprehension skills of students with autism spectrum disorders in Mangu, Plateau State, Nigeria

Introduction: This study investigated the effects of Graphic Novel Approach (GNA) on reading comprehension skills of students with autism spectrum disorders. Purpose: To analyze the decoding and vocabulary ability levels students with ASD need in order to read comprehensively. Mothodology: True experimental design, specifically pretest posttest control group design was used for the study. The forty-eight (48) students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the five (5) government secondary schools in Tim Zone, Mangu local government Plateau State, made up the population. Forty (40) of the students were selected as sample using simple random sampling technique. Students in the selected sample were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Reading Comprehension Achievement Test (RCAT) was used to test the students before and after intervention. The scores obtained were analyzed and results compared using Mean and Standard Deviation. Results: The experimental group showed significant improvement in decoding and vocabulary skills acquisition than the control group. Conclusion: GNA was used as intervention strategy and found to be effective in teaching reading comprehension to students with ASD. Recommendations: The researchers recommended that GNA be used in teaching reading comprehension to students with ASD.