Disseminating ASD Interventions: A Pilot Study of a Distance Learning Program for Parents and Professionals

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 11 - 24
• Main Authors: Wainer, Allison L., Ingersoll, Brooke R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.01.2013; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; Achievement Gains; Adaptations; Adult; Applied Behavior Analysis; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autistic children; Autistic spectrum disorders; Barriers; Behavior Modification; Behavior Patterns; Behavior Therapy - education; Behavior Therapy - methods; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Care and treatment; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child Behavior; Child clinical studies; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive - therapy; Child, Preschool; Children; Communication Skills; Computers; Counselors; Developmental disorders; Didacticism; Distance Education; Distance learning; Education, Distance - methods; Electronic Learning; Evidence Based Practice; Families & family life; Family Involvement; Female; Geographic Isolation; Health aspects; Humans; Imitation; Independent Study; Infantile autism; Information Dissemination - methods; Internet; Internet access; Intervention; Interventions; Knowledge; Knowledge Level; Learning; Medical sciences; Methods; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Neurosciences; Online instruction; Original Paper; Parenting; Parents; Parents & parenting; Parents - education; Pediatrics; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Pilot Projects; Prevention; Professionals; Program Effectiveness; Program Implementation; Psychological Patterns; Psychology; Psychology, Clinical - education; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Public Health; Resistance (Psychology); Supervision; Teaching Methods; Therapists; Training; Treatment Outcome; Video Technology; United States; United States > US; Autism spectrum disorders; Internet-based training; Intervention; Parent training; Distance learning; Parent; Developmental disorder; Remote teaching; Autism spectrum disorder; Autism; Pervasive developmental disorder; Treatment; Internet
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1538-4

There is a need for the adaptation of training in evidence-based interventions to non-traditional methods, particularly for individuals working with children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). An internet-based self-directed distance learning program was created to teach reciprocal imitation training, a naturalistic behavioral intervention aimed at increasing imitation in children with ASD. A single-subject multiple-baseline design study evaluated the effect of the program on changes in therapist (sample 1) and parent (sample 2) knowledge and behavior, and changes in child behavior. Adult participants improved their knowledge and use of the intervention techniques, and child participants improved their rates of imitation. Results suggest that a self-directed distance learning program may be effective for disseminating evidence-based practices to individuals working with children with ASD.