Educating Parents: Behavioral Intervention in Autism

描述（由申请人提供）：本STTR第二阶段申请寻求资金，以支持一个成功的第一阶段项目的持续发展。第一阶段建议开发和评估第一个最终的六个模块计算机化课程，题为“父母行为干预（BIP）”。“正如标题所暗示的那样，该课程将旨在教育自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）幼儿的父母了解行为干预（BI）的性质、目的和程序。第一个模块，理解自闭症的行为干预，在第一阶段完成。它是在对包括三个家长重点小组在内的需求进行彻底分析后制定的。参加随后的实地评估的家长获得了关键内容知识（从测试前到测试后平均提高了41%）。他们也对内容和在线演示非常满意; Likert类型调查的平均总体满意度评分（1=不满意，3=中等满意，5=非常满意）为4.1。与会者的评论进一步具体说明了满意的来源和改进今后单元的建议。BI仍然是一个共识的“最佳实践”的科学为基础的教学方法，建立关键的发展技能和预防/治疗适应不良行为的ASD（国家研究理事会，2001年）。ASD儿童的父母需要尽早与医疗，心理和教育专业人员进行有效的互动，因为BI和其他服务正在考虑和安排。我们的第一阶段实地评估数据支持我们在在线学习领域进行的其他项目的结果和结论，并表明家长的直接教育需求，因为消费者可以通过适当设计和吸引人的网络产品来满足。第二阶段提案的目的是完成五个额外的在线模块的开发，以支持更多样化的ASD儿童父母在以下领域的有效学习：1）BI的数据和问责制; 2）通过BI的儿童技能发展; 3）适应不良行为的原因，评估和积极干预; 4）BI和教育系统; 5）选择合格的BI人员。第二阶段设计的一个突出特点将是纳入BI战略的交互式视频演示。拟议的项目和由此产生的产品将直接使自闭症患者受益。通过向自闭症儿童的父母教授行为干预的基本原理，他们将更好地了解如何选择专业水平的行为干预，并能够更好地直接帮助这种干预。适当的行为干预可以促进学习和行为改变，最终可以为自闭症患者提供更多独立生活的机会。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This STTR Phase II application seeks funds to support the continued development of a successful Phase I project. Phase I proposed the development and evaluation of the first in an eventual six-module computer-based course entitled "Behavioral Intervention for Parents (BIP)." As the title implies, the course will be designed to educate parents of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the nature, purpose and procedures of behavioral intervention (BI). The first module, Understanding Behavioral Intervention in Autism, was completed during Phase I. It was developed following a thorough needs analysis that included three parent focus groups. Parents who participated in the subsequent field evaluation acquired critical content knowledge (41% mean improvement from pre- to post-test). They also were highly satisfied with the content and online presentation; the mean overall satisfaction rating on a Likert-type survey (1=unsatisfied, 3=moderately satisfied, 5=extremely satisfied) was 4.1. Participant comments further specified sources of satisfaction and suggestions for improvement in future modules. BI remains a consensus "best practice" science-based teaching methodology for establishing critical developmental skills and preventing/treating maladaptive behavior in ASD (National Research Council, 2001). Parents of children with ASD need to interact early and effectively with medical, psychological and educational professionals as BI and other services are considered and arranged. Our Phase I field-evaluation data support the results and conclusions of other projects we have conducted in the area of online learning, and indicate parents' immediate educational needs as consumers can be met with an appropriately designed and engaging web-based product. The purpose of this Phase II proposal is to complete development of five additional online modules to support efficient learning by a more diverse population of parents of children with ASD in the areas of: 1) data and accountability in BI; 2) child skill development through BI; 3) causes, assessment and positive intervention for maladaptive behavior; 4) BI and the educational system; and 5) selecting qualified BI personnel. A prominent feature of the Phase II design will be the incorporation of interactive video demonstrations of BI strategies. The proposed project and the resulting product will directly benefit individuals with autism. By teaching the fundamentals of behavioral intervention to parents of children with autism, they will be better informed about selecting professional-level behavioral intervention, and better able to aid in such intervention directly. Appropriate behavioral intervention enhances learning and behavior change, and ultimately can lead to greater the opportunities for independent living for individuals with autism.