Autism Intervention Research Network for Behavioral Health (AIR-B II): Deployment Into Elementary Schools

Autism Intervention Research Network for Behavioral Health (AIR-B II): Network Activity A: Conduct Research on Evidence-Based Practices.

The primary goal of this study is to identify efficacious and cost effective intervention strategies that can improve academic and psychological outcomes for children with ASD, and can be feasibly be implemented at fidelity by school personnel in under served elementary schools. Two simultaneous interventions will occur.

In intervention 1, students with ASD in inclusion classrooms will be randomized to the Playground Intervention or a waitlist control group. In the Playground Intervention, UCLA/ROC/UPENN staff will work with school personals (teachers, paraprofessionals) to increase peer engagement on the yard.

In intervention 2, students in special day classes will be randomized to the 'Schedule Tools Activities Transitions' Intervention (STAT) or wait-list control. In the STAT Intervention, UCLA/ROC/UPENN staff will work with teachers to implement behavioral strategies in the classrooms.

In both interventions, the conditions are: 1) Immediate treatment, where the training will begin immediately after baseline measures are completed. 2) Wait-list treatment, where the training will begin the follow school year.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Child: Child has to meet the following criteria: 1) Child's primary classroom teacher has consented to participate, 2) Child meets ADOS research criteria for autism spectrum disorder, 3) Child is between 5-11 years old, 4) Child's parents consented to have child participate, and 5) Child is placed in inclusion classroom or self-contained special education classroom for a minimum of 50% of the school day.
2. Adult: School teachers and paraprofessionals working with children with ASD.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Child: Participants will be excluded from the study if child has co-morbid disorders such as cerebral palsy, Fragile X, Down syndrome. Child has profound vision or hearing lose.
2. Adult: Participants will be excluded from the study if the adult is not a teacher, administrator, teaching assistant, yard attendant, related services provider, or a paraprofessional.