The goal of this study is to help children with autism and a co-occurring intellectual disability and their families learn practical strategies for managing issues like irritability, aggression, and other challenging behaviors. The main objective of this study is:

To adapt current Regulating Together materials to create an outpatient group program for emotion dysregulation in autism and co-occurring intellectual disability (ASD + ID) that will improve psychosocial outcomes for youth with ASD + ID.

Up to ten children with autism and co-occurring Intellectual Disability (ASD + ID) ages 8 to 12 years and their caregivers will be enrolled in the study. This study is being done to develop and test a behavior therapy to help children with ASD + ID calm their emotions. Participants will complete assessments at five time points:

Screening (T1); Week 0: Baseline visit (T2); Week 5: Post Active Treatment (T3); Week 10: 5 week follow-up (T4); and Week 15: 10 week follow-up (T5). Participants will receive 5 weeks of intervention, twice per week, following the T2 visit.

Child Participant Inclusion Criteria:

• Males, females, or non-binary youth between 8 and 12 years of age
• Confirmed diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Confirmed diagnosis of Intellectual Disability
• Fluent in spoken English.
• Use of flexible phrase speech or greater
• Meeting clinically significant emotion dysregulation criteria
• Willing to participate in twice weekly 90-minute sessions
• Family is willing to keep prescribed psychiatric medication and outside behavioral interventions stable
• Parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative (LAR) must provide written permission on behalf of the participant

Child Participant Exclusion Criteria:

• Initiation of new psychosocial intervention within 30 days prior to first day of treatment
• Presence of physical aggression in the child directed towards a peer outside the home (i.e., non-siblings) that resulted in injury within 30 days prior to screening. Other significant disruptive, aggressive, self-injurious, or sexually inappropriate behavior felt to be dangerous or overly disruptive to the group sessions will be reviewed by the study team on an individual basis.
• Presence of comorbid major neuropsychiatric illness warranting other treatment approaches
• Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss

Caregiver Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Lives and cares for their child with ASD+ID for > 50% of the year
• Fluent in spoken English.
• Willing to participate in twice weekly 90-minute sessions, including one virtual session weekly

Caregiver Exclusion Criteria:

-Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss

Risk for participant identification due to small sample and narrow geographic area