Abstract
Many parents of toddlers and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face challenges in identifying community childcare centers that are adequately prepared to provide developmentally appropriate care for their toddler while also obtaining the recommended amount of early intervention services in their communities. Implementing naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) within childcare centers would increase toddlers’ with ASD access to evidence-based interventions and support their parents. In preparation for an NDBI childcare adaptation, we surveyed 55 childcare providers on their knowledge of ASD, confidence and experiences caring for toddlers with ASD, and openness to, and preferred format of, receiving additional training. Overall, interest in training was high, most providers were willing to attend at least one training session. Providers who experienced child behaviors that interfered with learning were significantly more likely to be interested in additional training. However total training hours providers were willing to complete was low compared to typical NDBI training practices and adult learning strategies literature.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Braddock, B., & Twyman, K. (2014). Access to treatment for toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Clinical Pediatrics, 53(3), 225–229. https://doi.org/10.1177/0009922814521284
Brian, J., Bernardi, K., Dowds, E., Easterbrook, R., MacWilliam, S., & Bryson, S. (2017). Feasibility of training early childhood educators in a community child care setting using a caregiver-mediated intervention for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 5(5), 93–102. https://doi.org/10.11114/jets.v5i5.2345
Burrell, T. L., Postorino, V., Scahill, L., Rea, H. M., Gillespie, S., Evans, A. N., & Bearss, K. (2020). Feasibility of group parent training for children with autism spectrum disorder and disruptive behavior: A demonstration pilot. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04427-1
Cox, E. (2006). An adult learning approach to coaching. Evidence based coaching handbook (pp. 193–217). Wiley.
Dunst, C. J., & Raab, M. (2010). Practitioners’ self-evaluations of contrasting types of professional development. Journal of Early Intervention, 32(4), 239–254. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053815110384702
Emerson, L. M., Biesters, J., de Bruin, E., & Bögels, S. (2021). The distinguishing characteristics of parents seeking a mindful parenting intervention in child mental health care. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 30(4), 881–893. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-020-01890-3
Falk, D. (2004). Prelinguistic evolution in early hominins: Whence motherese? Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 27(4), 491. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X04000111
Frost, K. M., Brian, J., Gengoux, G. W., Hardan, A., Rieth, S. R., Stahmer, A., & Ingersoll, B. (2020). Identifying and measuring the common elements of naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions for autism spectrum disorder: Development of the NDBI-Fi. Autism, 24(8), 2285–2297. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320944011
Ghasemi, A., & Zahediasl, S. (2012). Normality tests for statistical analysis: A guide for non-statisticians. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10(2), 486. https://doi.org/10.5812/ijem.3505
Gulsrud, A., Carr, T., Williams, J., Panganiban, J., Jones, F., Kimbrough, J., Shih, W., & Kasari, C. (2019). Developmental screening and early intervention in a childcare setting for young children at risk for autism and other developmental delays: A feasibility trial. Autism Research, 12(9), 1423–1433. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2160
Haine-Schlagel, R., & Walsh, N. E. (2015). A review of parent participation engagement in child and family mental health treatment. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 18(2), 133–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-015-0182-x
Kuhn, J. C., & Carter, A. S. (2006). Maternal self-efficacy and associated parenting cognitions among mothers of children with autism. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 76(4), 564–575. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.76.4.564
Lauer, P. A., Christopher, D. E., Firpo-Triplett, R., & Buchting, F. (2014). The impact of short-term professional development on participant outcomes: A review of the literature. Professional Development in Education, 40(2), 207–227. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-015-0135-7
Mandell, D. S., Barry, C. L., Marcus, S. C., Xie, M., Shea, K., Mullan, K., & Epstein, A. J. (2016). Effects of autism spectrum disorder insurance mandates on the treated prevalence of autism spectrum disorder. JAMA Pediatrics, 170(9), 887–893. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.1049
Maye, M., Sanchez, V. E., Stone-MacDonald, A., & Carter, A. S. (2020a). Early interventionists’ appraisals of intervention strategies for toddlers with autism spectrum disorder and their peers in inclusive childcare classrooms. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(11), 4199–4208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04456-w
Maye, M., Gaston, D., Godina, I., Conrad, J. A., Rees, J., Rivera, R., & Lushin, V. (2020b). Playful but mindful: How to best use positive affect in treating toddlers with autism. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 59(3), 336.
Montes, G., & Halterman, J. S. (2008). Child care problems and employment among families with preschool-aged children with autism in the United States. Pediatrics, 122(1), e202–e208. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2007-3037
Pellecchia, M., Beidas, R. S., Mandell, D. S., Cannuscio, C. C., Dunst, C. J., & Stahmer, A. C. (2020). Parent empowerment and coaching in early intervention: Study protocol for a feasibility study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 6(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-020-00568-3
Pickard, K., Mellman, H., Frost, K., Reaven, J., & Ingersoll, B. (2021). Balancing fidelity and flexibility: Usual care for young children with an increased likelihood of having autism spectrum disorder within an early intervention system. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04882-4
Robinson, S., & Weiss, J. A. (2020). Examining the relationship between social support and stress for parents of individuals with autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 74, 101557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2020.101557
Rogers, S. J., Vismara, L., Wagner, A. L., McCormick, C., Young, G., & Ozonoff, S. (2014). Autism treatment in the first year of life: A pilot study of infant start, a parent-implemented intervention for symptomatic infants. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(12), 2981–2995. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2202-y
Schreibman, L., Dawson, G., Stahmer, A. C., Landa, R., Rogers, S. J., McGee, G. G., Kasari, C., Ingersoll, B., Kaiser, A. P., Bruinsma, Y., McNerney, E., Wetherby, A., & Halladay, A. (2015). Naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions: Empirically validated treatments for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(8), 2411–2428. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2407-8
Shire, S. Y., Shih, W., Chang, Y.-C., Bracaglia, S., Kodjoe, M., & Kasari, C. (2019). Sustained community implementation of JASPER intervention with toddlers with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(5), 1863–1875. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-03875-0
Smith, T., & Iadarola, S. (2015). Evidence base update for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 44(6), 897–922. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2015.1077448
Stahmer, A. C., Akshoomoff, N., & Cunningham, A. B. (2011). Inclusion for toddlers with autism spectrum disorders: The first ten years of a community program. Autism, 15(5), 625–641. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361310392253
Stahmer, A. C., & Carter, C. (2005). An empirical examination of toddler development in inclusive childcare. Early Child Development and Care, 175(4), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/0300443042000266231
Strain, P. S., & Bovey, E. H. (2011). Randomized, controlled trial of the LEAP model of early intervention for young children with autism spectrum disorders. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 31(3), 133–154. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121411408740
Trivette, C. M., Dunst, C. J., Hamby, D. W., & O’herin, C. E. (2009). Characteristics and consequences of adult learning methods and strategies. Research Brief, 3(1), 1–33.
Tupou, J. (2020). Meta-analysis supports naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions as a promising approach for improving a range of outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder1. Evidence-Based Communication Assessment and Intervention. https://doi.org/10.1080/17489539.2020.1816328
Vibert, B. A., Dufek, S., Klein, C. B., Choi, Y. B., Winter, J., Lord, C., & Kim, S. H. (2020). Quantifying caregiver change across early autism interventions using the measure of NDBI strategy implementation: Caregiver change (MONSI-CC). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 50(4), 1364–1379.
Vivanti, G., Kasari, C., Green, J., Mandell, D., Maye, M., & Hudry, K. (2018). Implementing and evaluating early intervention for children with autism: Where are the gaps and what should we do? Autism Research, 11(1), 16–23.
Vivanti, G., Paynter, J., Duncan, E., Fothergill, H., Dissanayake, C., Rogers, S. J., Team VA. (2014). Effectiveness and feasibility of the early start Denver model implemented in a group-based community childcare setting. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(12), 3140–3153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2168-9
Wilson, K. P., Dykstra, J. R., Watson, L. R., Boyd, B. A., & Crais, E. R. (2012). Coaching in early education classrooms serving children with autism: A pilot study. Early Childhood Education Journal, 40(2), 97–105. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0493-6
Zeng, S., Pereira, B., Larson, A., Corr, C. P., O’Grady, C., & Stone-MacDonald, A. (2021). Preschool suspension and expulsion for young children with disabilities. Exceptional Children, 87(2), 199–216. https://doi.org/10.1177/0014402920949832
Funding
This research project was funded by an Autism Speaks Dennis Weatherstone Predoctoral Fellowship (#9117).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to study conception, design, and/or analytic approach. MM supervised data collection conducted some of the statistical analyses and drafted the initial manuscript. SE conducted a majority of the analyses and contributed to the draft of the initial draft of the manuscript. ASM and ASC provided substantive feedback on manuscript drafts.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to disclose.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maye, M., Edmunds, S., Stone-MacDonald, A. et al. Preparation for Adaptation of Intensive Early Intervention for Toddlers with ASD: Childcare Providers’ Perspectives on Training Approach. Early Childhood Educ J 51, 1181–1188 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-022-01364-9
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-022-01364-9