| Description |
Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) living in underserviced rural areas were provided with training based on Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) through a combination of teleconsultation and the online Rethink Autism program. Primary study aims were gains in child behavior and parent ABA implementation integrity, with secondary aims of social validity and cost-benefit analyses. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design was used across three rural families. Following in-vivo orientation, three phases were completed remotely through Rethink and teleconsultation. The baseline phase involved novice participants implementing ABA using only a one-page lesson printout. This was followed by successful completion of four Rethink ABA training modules. During the intervention phase, participants had access to Rethink's high definition video modeling and coaching delivered via teleconsultation. The generalization phase replicated baseline conditions with a never-before-seen lesson; participants had only the lesson printout without coaching or video modeling. Outcomes reveal large effect sizes for parent increases in ABA implementation integrity from baseline to generalization (Tau-U = 0.82), coupled with child skill gains in their ABA lesson programming (Tau-U = 0.80). Both Rethink and teleconsultation were rated with high acceptability and perceived effectiveness. Cost analyses show financial benefits of Rethink and teleconsultation in terms of ABA programming (annual savings = $18,051 per child), logistical expense (average travel of 49 driving hours over 2,900 miles), and ABA consultation costs (average savings by teleconsultation = $300.16). These results are discussed within the scope of the current literature base, along with implications, limitations, and directions for future research. |
