Overview
The Sequencing Methods for Autism: A Randomized Trial (SMART) project examines how caregivers can learn social communication strategies, behavior regulation strategies or both sets of strategies to support autistic toddlers’ communication and behavior.
Social communication strategies can:
- Teach your child to use more gestures, sounds, and words
- Teach your child to imitate your actions and words
- Teach your child to play with toys in new ways
- Help you and your child play and have fun together
- Help your child express their wants and needs to facilitate behavior and emotion regulation
Behavior strategies can:
- Help reduce how often your child is using disruptive behaviors (e.g., yelling, hitting, running away, throwing things)
- Help your child switch between activities (e.g., leaving the park without getting extremely upset)
- Teach your child to follow your directions (e.g., pick up their blocks when you ask)
- Teach your child new ways to communicate (e.g., how to ask for help rather than scream)
Why participate?
While participating in this study you will have the opportunity to learn strategies to support your child’s communication and/or behavior with the guidance and feedback of an expert clinician. All of these activities will occur over video call during a time that is most convenient for your family. Participating may not only benefit you and your child, but it may also help other families by helping us learn how to personalize support strategies for unique child and family goals.
You could be eligible if:
- Your child is between 18 and 48 months old
- Your child has received an autism diagnosis
- You are interested in learning strategies to support your child’s communication and/or behavior
You could:
- Receive up to $200 for your family’s time over the 6-month study
- Participate in activities over video calls during a time that is most convenient for your family
- Learn how to support your child’s communication and behavior
- Receive an iPad (and potentially cellular service) during your participation
