Kimberly Crosland

Effective Strategies for the Inclusion of Children With Autism in General Education Classrooms

Successful inclusion of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in general education classrooms can be challenging and may require additional supports. This article provides information on recent trends in autism intervention research and a review of research that has addressed individualized and systemic interventions for promoting inclusion. Response to intervention and schoolwide positive behavior support are reviewed as organizational/ systems strategies relevant to preventing problems and improving social and academic outcomes for students with ASD. Additional individualized strategies that can be implemented within these models are described. A discussion of future research directions is provided.

The Effects of Staff Training on the Types of Interactions Observed at Two Group Homes for Foster Care Children

Objectives: An extensive literature base exists for behavioral parent training; however, few studies have focused on training direct care staff at group home and residential facilities for children. This study was conducted to determine whether a behavioral staff training program consisting of classroom training and in-home feedback would improve staff interactions with children at two group foster care homes. Method: Staff at both homes were trained, and direct observation measures were obtained on positive and negative interactions and lack of interactions. A multiple-baseline design across homes was used to assess staff interaction behavior. Results: Increases in both positive interactions and tool use were observed in the treatment phase, as were decreases in negative interactions for both group homes. Conclusions: The results suggest that training direct care staff, including social workers, to use behavioral strategies change patterns of interaction, resulting in a greater likelihood of improved relationships between staff and children.

Using Staff Training to Decrease the Use of Restrictive Procedures at Two Facilities for Foster Care Children

Objective: Use of some restrictive procedures, including physical restraint, has been controversial. For children within the foster care system, who have already suffered various degrees of abuse and neglect, restrictive procedures could add to their emotional and behavioral problems. The current study was conducted to determine whether a behavioral staff training program would help reduce the use of restrictive procedures at two group facilities housing children in the foster care system. Method: Pre- and posttraining measures (incident reports) were obtained within a nonconcurrent multiple-baseline design to document the use of restrictive procedures. Results: The data revealed decreases in reports of several restrictive procedures (e.g., take downs, physical holds, and physical and pharmacological restraints) at both facilities. Conclusions: The results suggest that training direct care staff personnel, including social workers, in positive behavioral strategies might reduce staff use of restrictive procedures and result in fewer injuries to both children and staff.

Using goal setting and feedback to increase weekly running distance

We evaluated goal setting with performance feedback to increase running distance among 5 healthy adults. Participants set a short-term goal each week and a long-term goal to achieve on completion of the study. Results demonstrated that goal setting and performance feedback increased running distance for all participants.

Using the Prevent-Teach-Reinforce Model with Families of Young Children with ASD

This study was conducted to examine the feasibility and potential efficacy of implementing an adapted, family-centered version of the school-based prevent-teach-reinforce (PTR) model. The research included two families who implemented the PTR process for their children in collaboration with the researchers. The adapted PTR was tested using a multiple baseline design across routines to examine changes in child behavior across experimental conditions. Results indicated that the adapted PTR intervention was associated with reduction in child problem behavior and increases in alternative behavior in both target and non-target routines. The results also indicated that the parents were able to implement the behavior intervention plan with fidelity and successfully use the PTR process for a novel routine. The PTR intervention also had high social validity ratings; both self- and novel-rated validity indicated that the PTR intervention was acceptable to both families and the community at large. The data are discussed in terms of the expanding evidence related to the PTR model and the extension to a family context.

Evaluating a Tablet Application and Differential Reinforcement to Increase Eye Contact in Children with Autism.

We tested the effectiveness of a tablet application and differential reinforcement to increase eye contact in 3 children with autism. The application required the child to look at a picture of a persons face and identify the number displayed in the persons eyes. Eye contact was assessed immediately after training, 1 hr after training, and in a playroom. The tablet application was not effective; however, differential reinforcement was effective for all participants.

A Trend Analysis of Participant and Setting Characteristics in Autism Intervention Research.

The current trend analysis was conducted to empirically document the characteristics of individuals with autism who participated in intervention research published between 1995 and 2009 in three journals (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, and Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities). Information was collected on age of participants, cognitive and communicative functioning, setting, and ecological variables. Overall, the data are interpreted to document few changes over time; however, increasing trends were noted in the proportion of studies that included children below the age of 6 years and in the proportion of studies that included higher functioning participants. The data are discussed in relation to the status of intervention research and demographic changes pertaining to autism.

An Evaluation of a Self-Management Intervention to Increase On-Task Behavior With Individuals Diagnosed With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent disorders in school-age children. Children with ADHD often have difficulty at school and at home. Medication is a common treatment for children with ADHD; however, it has been shown to be more effective when combined with behavioral interventions. Self-management has extensive research support showing its effectiveness for children with ADHD primarily in academic settings. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact a self-management intervention would have on the on-task behavior of children during various routines, both academic and nonacademic, in the home setting. Participants were trained to use a self-management intervention. In addition, parents were trained to conduct accuracy checks on their child’s performance as well as deliver feedback and rewards. All three participants showed an increase in on-task behavior following the implementation of the self-management intervention; two of the three participants’ on-task behavior maintained high, stable levels as the self-management schedule was faded. One participant’s on-task behavior did not maintain high levels and therefore required implementation of a self-management plus reinforcement for on-task behavior condition to reestablish high, stable levels of on-task behavior. For one participant, the duration of the targeted routine increased. Current limitations are discussed, and recommendations for future research in this area are provided.

Using Behavioral Skills Training to Promote the Generalization of Parenting Skills to Problematic Routines

Research has demonstrated the efficacy of a behavioral parent training program for skills acquisition; however, few studies have examined the extent to which those skills generalize to the home or the effect that they have on child behavior. A multiple baseline across participants design was used to assess (a) caregiver accuracy with implementation of three parenting skills, and (b) the effects of the parenting skills on child behavior. Results demonstrated that three caregiver participants successfully generalized parenting skills taught during behavioral skills training (BST) to naturally occurring routines, and the behavior of each caregivers child improved following BST.

Response to bullying (RTB): Behavioral skills and in situ training for individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities: RESPONSE TO BULLYING

This study evaluated behavioral skills training (BST) and in situ training (IST) to teach a response to bullying (RtB) to four adults with intellectual disabilities who were victims of bullying. The RtB consisted of refraining from retaliating, stating disapproval, walking away, and telling a staff member. In situ assessments were conducted in the natural setting to assess the effects of BST and IST. BST alone was successful in teaching the RtB to two participants. When BST did not result in the use of the RtB, IST was effective for one participant, and IST plus an incentive was effective for the other participant. The results of this study are consistent with previous BST and IST research.