An Evaluation of an Interactive Computer Training to Teach Parents to Implement a Photographic Activity Schedule
Class
Article
Department
Special Education and Rehabilitation
Faculty Mentor
Thomas Higbee
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are characterized by deficits in language and social interaction, as well as repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Because of these deficits, many children with autism tend to engage in unusual play or engage in behaviors that impede with play. An activity schedule is one technology that has been used to teach appropriate play, social skills, and independence for children with autism. Activity schedules have been used in a variety of settings such as at school and in home, however little attention has been paid to parent implemented activity schedules. Teaching parents how to use a technique that promotes independence would be of social significance. Therefore, a method to disseminate this technique to a broader community, such as parents, seems warranted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of an interactive computer training to teach parents to implement an activity schedule with their child with autism in home. A fidelity checklist was used to measure the percentage of correctly implemented steps to teach an activity schedule. In baseline the percentage of steps completed correctly were low (0-11%) and following the interactive computer training, both participants' teaching fidelity greatly increased (89-95%).
Start Date
4-9-2015 11:00 AM
An Evaluation of an Interactive Computer Training to Teach Parents to Implement a Photographic Activity Schedule
Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are characterized by deficits in language and social interaction, as well as repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Because of these deficits, many children with autism tend to engage in unusual play or engage in behaviors that impede with play. An activity schedule is one technology that has been used to teach appropriate play, social skills, and independence for children with autism. Activity schedules have been used in a variety of settings such as at school and in home, however little attention has been paid to parent implemented activity schedules. Teaching parents how to use a technique that promotes independence would be of social significance. Therefore, a method to disseminate this technique to a broader community, such as parents, seems warranted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of an interactive computer training to teach parents to implement an activity schedule with their child with autism in home. A fidelity checklist was used to measure the percentage of correctly implemented steps to teach an activity schedule. In baseline the percentage of steps completed correctly were low (0-11%) and following the interactive computer training, both participants' teaching fidelity greatly increased (89-95%).