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An initial trial of OPT-In-Early: An online training program for caregivers of autistic children
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

An initial trial of OPT-In-Early: An online training program for caregivers of autistic children

Yael G Dai, Rebecca P Thomas, Lynn Brennan, My-Linh Luu, Jamie Hughes-Lika, Molly Reilly, Paula Moreno, Brenda Obe, Kelli B Ahmed, Leandra N Berry, …
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, pp 13623613221142408-13623613221142408
15 Dec 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613221142408
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10267291View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified),  Open

Abstract

LAY ABSTRACTEarly intervention can help children learn language and improve social communication. However, many barriers, including the expense of services and an insufficient number of providers, prohibit families from accessing services when their children are young. We developed a comprehensive online program for caregivers of autistic children. The program, Online Parent Training in Early Behavioral Intervention (OPT-In-Early), uses text and video demonstrations to teach caregivers effective methods for improving their children's language, social, and adaptive skills (e.g. using utensils, toilet training), and reducing their children's disruptive behavior. Sixty-three parents from three states participated in the study. Half of the parents received access to the OPT-In-Early program. After 4 months, parents who had access to the OPT-In-Early program learned more effective intervention strategies, and started using these strategies during interactions with their children, than parents who did not receive access to the program. Parent participation in OPT-In-Early did not significantly influence children's social communication compared to children whose parents did not have access to OPT-In-Early. A longer duration of parents using learned intervention skills with their children may be needed for children's social communication skills to improve.

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4 citations in Web of Science
2 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychology, Developmental
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