Principal Investigator: In collaboration with PI: Dr. David Mandell (University of Pennsylvania); Co-Investigator: Aubyn Stahmer.

Funding: NIMH 1 R01 MH83717-01A1 (7/2008-7/2010) and U.S. Department of Education Grant: R324A080195 (7/2008-7/2012)

The number of children with ASDs served in the US public education system has risen an average of 16% each year over the last decade. The education system has struggled to serve students with autism effectively because of the limited number of interventions that have demonstrated efficacy in classroom settings with a diversity of children and teachers. Furthermore, very little research has examined whether and how efficacious interventions can be successfully implemented and sustained in community settings. To address this need, researchers are evaluating the Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research Program. The individual components of the intervention are evidence based but rigorous evidence of the efficacy of the entire program is limited. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research Program compared to a typical classroom service model serving children with ASDs. The project is the first randomized clinical trial of evidence-based practices for autism in a public school setting. The project is being conducted in collaboration with the Philadelphia, PA school district. Forty elementary school teachers will be randomly assigned to either the experimental or control conditions. By the third year all teachers will be trained in the evidence-based programming. Whether the program can be maintained once training support is removed will also be explored. The researchers are including key outcomes related to the learning and development of young children with autism and exploring factors that may moderate outcomes. The project will also address whether length of teacher training affects child outcomes and program sustainability. Dr. Aubyn Stahmer is responsible for examining treatment integrity of the intervention.

Last updated February 20, 2009
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