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There are limited empirically supported interventions that target three outcomes—behavior of children with ASD (instead of using adjectives such as “disruptive,” “interfering,” “problem,” or “challenging” behavior, we use “behavior” to avoid ableist language), parent stress, and parenting sense of competence. To help address this need, we tested a hybrid telehealth adaptation of COMPASS for Hope (C-HOPE), an 8-week parent-mediated program originally offered via face-to-face or synchronous telehealth delivery. The present study incorporated asynchronous group discussion board sessions hosted on a learning-management platform together with synchronous individual coaching sessions by telephone. Using a pre-post design, 10 caregivers completed the intervention. Effect sizes were calculated for three treatment outcomes of child behavior, parent stress, and parenting sense of competence. There was a statistically significant difference in the scores for child behavior, with a large effect size (d = 0.73) and a statistically significant difference in parent stress, with a medium effect size (d = 0.50). No difference was observed for parenting sense of competence. Treatment adherence and caregiver satisfaction for the intervention were acceptable. Findings support the feasibility and promise of combining asynchronous and synchronous telehealth elements to increase access to evidence-based parent-mediated interventions for ASD.

Teacher stress and burnout have a detrimental effect on the stability of the teaching workforce. However, the possible consequences of teacher burnout on teaching quality and on student learning outcomes are less clear, especially in special education settings. We applied Maslach and Leiter’s (1999) model to understand the direct effects of burnout on teaching in general and stress arising from interaction with a specific student on the individualized education program (IEP) outcomes of young children with autism spectrum disorder. We also examined indirect effects through teaching quality and student engagement. The results indicated that one of the three components of burnout—teacher personal accomplishment—was directly related to IEP outcomes, a distal effect, whereas stress was directly related to teaching quality and student engagement, which were more proximal effects. In addition, teacher stress, emotional exhaustion, and depersonalization had indirect effects on IEP outcomes through teaching quality and student engagement.

Despite the growing number of studies that demonstrate the importance of empowering parents with knowledge and skills to act as intervention agents for their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), there are limited examples of parent-mediated interventions that focus on problem behaviors. Additionally, access to ASD-trained clinicians and research supported delivery options for families in rural areas is severely limited. COMPASS for Hope (C-HOPE) is an 8-week parent intervention program that was developed with the option of telehealth or face-to-face delivery. Parents who received C-HOPE intervention reported a reduction in parenting stress and an increase in competence. Parents also reported significant reductions in child behavior problems, both when compared to pre-intervention levels and to a waitlist control condition.

The postsecondary outcomes of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are significantly worse than peers with other disabilities. One problem is the lack of empirically-supported transition planning interventions to guide services and help produce better outcomes. We applied an implementation science approach to adapt and modify an evidence-based consultation intervention originally tested with young children called the Collaborative Model for Promoting Competence and Success (COMPASS; Ruble et al., The collaborative model for promoting competence and success for students with ASD. Springer, New York, 2012a) and evaluate it for efficacy in a randomized controlled trial for transition-age youth. Results replicated findings with younger students with ASD that IEP outcomes were higher for COMPASS compared to the placebo control group (d = 2.1). Consultant fidelity was high and teacher adherence improved over time, replicating the importance of ongoing teacher coaching.

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) without an intellectual disability have daily living skills (DLS) impairments. An initial feasibility pilot of Surviving and Thriving in the Real World (STRW), a group intervention that targets DLS, demonstrated significant improvements. A pilot RCT of STRW was conducted to extend these findings. Twelve adolescents with ASD were randomized to the treatment or waitlist groups. The treatment group had significant DLS improvements on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales, 3rd Edition and the DLS goal attainment scale. Four adolescents from the waitlist crossed over and completed STRW. Entire sample analyses with 10 participants demonstrated large DLS gains. Results provide further evidence of the efficacy of STRW for closing the gap between DLS and chronological age.

The purpose of this study was to develop an Individual Education Program (IEP) evaluation tool based on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements and National Research Council recommendations for children with autism; determine the tool’s reliability; test the tool on a pilot sample of IEPs of young children; and examine associations between IEP quality and school, teacher, and child characteristics. IEPs for 35 students with autism ( M age = 6.1 years; SD = 1.6) from 35 different classrooms were examined. The IEP tool had adequate interrater reliability (ICC = .70). Results identified no statistically significant association between demographics and IEP quality, and IEPs contained relatively clear descriptions of present levels of performance. Weaknesses of IEPs were described and recommendations provided.

We applied the ABCX model of stress and coping to assess the association between child and family demands, school-based resources (i.e., parent–teacher alliance and COMPASS, a consultation intervention), and two measures of parent stress: perceptions of the demands of raising a child (Child domain) and reactions to those demands (Parent domain). Data were analyzed from seventy-nine parents of children ages 3–9 with ASD participating in two randomized controlled trials of COMPASS. Stronger parent–teacher alliance correlated with decreased Parent domain stress and participation in COMPASS correlated with decreased Child domain stress after controlling for baseline stress. The study indicates that school-based resources can help reduce parent stress.

Little is known about services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) living in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to examine parent report of access to and satisfaction with services for children with ASD in rural areas and compare results to parents from urban areas. Parents in both groups reported children were diagnosed after the age of 3 and experienced challenges accessing services, trained professionals, and educators. Parents from rural areas reported significantly more difficulty accessing trained physicians and professionals in their areas. The implications of this study and needed future research are discussed.

The effects of a teacher consultation intervention were examined—namely, the collaborative model for promoting competence and success (COMPASS), which was designed to improve objectives of individualized education programs for children with autism. The intervention consists of an initial parent—teacher consultation, followed by four teacher consultations across the school year. Thirty-five teachers and a randomly selected child with autism (M age = 6.1 years) from each classroom participated. Compared to the nonintervention teacher—child dyads, the intervention teacher—child dyads showed improvements in individualized education program objectives, with a large effect size ( d = 1.51).

Lisa A. Ruble University of Kentucky, Lexington Heather Willis Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN Cynthia A. Molloy Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati Contact author: Donna S. Murray, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, 3333 Burnet Avenue ML 4002, Cincinnati, OH 45229. E-mail: donna.murray{at}cchmc.org . Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the agreement between parent and teacher perceptions of specific social behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Method: Informant ratings were generated concerning 45 children with ASD between the ages of 5 and 14 years who were enrolled in social skills groups at 2 Midwestern outpatient autism treatment centers. Results: Moderate agreement was observed between parents and teachers for the overall social skills rating scores ( r = 0.34; p < 0.05), but there was little agreement on specific social items. Distinct patterns of skill profiles emerged. Parents consistently provided relatively higher ratings on items that pertained to initiating interactions. Teachers, on the other hand, consistently provided higher ratings on items related to responding to and maintaining interactions. Parents and teachers agreed most often on items of affective understanding and perspective taking. Conclusion: These findings suggest that specific social behaviors may be context dependent, indicating the need for a multi-informant approach to provide a more complete profile of a child's social abilities, which is necessary for generating a more effective treatment plan. KEY WORDS: autism, social skills, parent, teacher report CiteULike     Connotea     Del.icio.us     Digg     Facebook     Reddit     Technorati     Twitter     What's this?