Building Community Capacity: Evaluating a Distance Training Model for Underserved, Rural Areas

Though research has identified effective practices for children with autism, there is limited dissemination of these practices in applied settings. As a result, the majority of families of children with autism do not have access to the high-quality interventions that are known to positively impact children’s developmental trajectories. Access is particularly limited in rural or geographically remote areas, where there are limited services and training opportunities for service providers. The proposed project addresses the need for training for service providers in evidence-based practices through systematic examination of an online training and coaching model.

Fifteen therapists in underserved, rural areas will receive web-based training in Project ImPACT for Toddlers, a parent-mediated, naturalistic, developmental behavioral intervention that is consistently supported in the literature. A multiple baseline across training groups approach will be used to examine the effectiveness of training in promoting therapist learning. After training, each therapist will utilize Project ImPACT for Toddlers with a family of a child with autism. Parents’ ability to use the strategies will be examined, per the goal of parent-mediated intervention. Information on the effectiveness, feasibility, and satisfaction of/with the distance training model generated in the current project will be utilized to support application for a larger study of child outcomes.