Using the 2008-2013 Medicaid Analytic eXtract files, this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate the effect of Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver programs on emergency department (ED) utilizations among youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our study showed that the annual ED utilization rates were 13.5% and 18.8%…

Background: Social and communication impairments are a core diagnostic feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and can act as a barrier to developing relationships. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2016) guidelines recommend group social skills interventions as the first-line treatment to help adults with ASD improve their…

This meta-analytic review investigated interventions for transition-age youth diagnosed with autism, intellectual disability, or extensive support needs. Nineteen group design studies with 215 effect sizes met inclusion criteria. A robust variance estimation procedure that accounts for the clustering effect sizes within studies was used to…

Approximately 50 years of research on rapid toilet training (RTT) first used by Azrin and Foxx (1971) indicates RTT is effective for teaching individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) independent toileting routines. Professionals focused on toilet training may be familiar with RTT procedures but be less informed about the…

Background: Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability evidence significant anxiety. This study aimed to adapt a group cognitive behaviour therapies (CBT) programme designed for youth with ASD and anxiety to meet the cognitive, communication, and behavioural needs of adolescents with intellectual disability, and…

Few studies have been conducted in Greece focusing on the education of conversational skills of individuals with developmental disabilities. The aim of this qualitative research was to educate seven individuals with developmental disabilities, who are living in an intensive treatment residential facility, in social exchanges and particularly in…

In their recent review of special educational needs in schools, the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF, 2020) highlights the fact that teaching strategies that are known to work well for mainstream learners are also likely to be effective for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In this article, the authors explain how…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of using video modeling (VM) to teach three young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) to independently communicate their physical location via text and phone call. We used a multiple-probe research design across behaviors to evaluate the effects of the…

Persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and low cognitive functioning tend to demonstrate regulatory responses to auditory sensations, leading to disturbed behaviours such as self-stimulation, stereotypical movements, even aggression and self-harm. The aim of this study was to investigate whether listening to specific sounds and music reduced…

This study evaluated the measurable impact of the use of virtual interactive training agents (ViTA) as a way to practice interviewing and gain confidence in responding to questions asked during job interviews. Of the total participants (n = 153), the majority were male (72.55%) with an average age of 21.71 years old (SD = 3.14 years). Autism…

This social validity study accompanied a 9-month randomized control trial that investigated the efficacy of an emergent literacy program, Early Literacy Skills Builder (ELSB), delivered in general education elementary classrooms to students with severe disabilities, including autism. The social validity research questions focused on (a) the social…

Noise hypersensitivity is a poorly understood symptom of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). For some, problem behaviors co-occur with the aversive noise. Limited literature exists on treating noise hypersensitivity; however, noise hypersensitivity may be related to a specific phobia. This case study utilizes modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy…

Few transition studies have involved training supervisors on interacting and relaying feedback to individuals with intellectual disability during vocational training. We used a multiple baseline across participants design to examine the efficacy of an adaptive check-in/check-out (CICO) intervention for increasing the rate of performance feedback…

For children with autism or intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have complex communication needs, communication is a necessary skill set to increase independence and quality of life. Understanding the how, where, and communication style being taught is important for identifying deficits in the field as well as which interventions…

Many researchers and practitioners cite concerns with maintenance and generalization as a serious issue for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), although few studies explicitly target performance of behaviors outside training environments. After an initial intervention failed to produce robust generalization outcomes, the present…