Evaluating the Efficacy of Pathways Parent-Mediated Early Autism Intervention on Social Attention and Language

Pathways-trained research clinicians will conduct 90-minute weekly coaching sessions with caregivers (in English or Spanish) in the family's home or other convenient location. Caregivers will receive a written and audio version of the program manual in English or Spanish, depending on the family's home language. Sessions will review information about autism, interactional strategies, and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) techniques from the program manual, demonstrate intervention strategies, and provide caregivers with practice feedback and self-reflection.

Caregivers will access a 20-30-minute video lesson and associated handouts (in English or Spanish, depending on the parent's home language) every other week for 24 weeks. On the off week, the caregiver will meet with a trained clinician (in English or Spanish) for 30 minutes without the child. Lessons will cover autism, social attention delays, evidence-based interventions, self-regulation, talking with your child, playing with your child, principles of managing behavior, knowing your rights, and self-care. The first and last visit will occur in the family's home or another convenient location. All other visits will take place over Zoom videoconferencing software.