Interventions Benefitting Young Autistic Children.

Abstract

The education and treatment of autistic children present numerous challenges. Researchers at Juniper Gardens Children's Project (JGCP) have contributed several important interventions. The beginning of this article in the special issue focuses on interventions promoting communication and social interactions of young autistic children. This line of research greatly expanded knowledge on evidence-based school intervention strategies that include neurotypical peers. In small group settings, peers are taught to be responsive communication partners. Recent work includes interventions to maximize communication outcomes and peer interactions for minimally-verbal or non-verbal autistic children learning to use augmentative and alternative communication. The next section of the article summarizes a telehealth training program called The Online and Applied System of Intervention Skills (OASIS) that helps caregivers learn behavioral procedures to promote independence and reduce challenging behavior. In OASIS, parents learn behavioral strategies through a sequence of online tutorials and assessments, each of which is followed by telehealth coaching sessions. Parents practice strategies in the home with their child while receiving guidance from a trained coach. OASIS has been adopted by programs around the country, especially for families on waiting lists to receive home-based treatment or services.