A Systematic Literature Review of the Patterns of School-Home Communication Among Caregivers of Children with Autism

Despite the importance of caregiver involvement in special education, research examining school-home communication among families of children with autism has only begun to emerge in recent years. Further, it is unclear how caregivers of children with autism perceive the impact of the different dimensions of communication on family-professional partnerships and child outcomes. In this systematic literature review, we examined 25 studies about school-home communication. Overwhelmingly, caregivers report the need for frequent, honest, and open communication with the school. Moreover, family-professional partnerships and caregiver involvement are impacted by how educators value caregivers’ input. School-home communication also demonstrates positive effects on child behavioral outcomes. Limitations, directions for future research, and implications for practice are discussed.