Building Better Bridges: Outcomes of a Community-Partnered New School Transition Intervention for Students on the Autism Spectrum.

New school transitions can be challenging for students on the autism spectrum. No published, evidence-based interventions exist to support families and teachers of students transitioning to elementary and secondary school during this critical period. Using Community Partnered Participatory Research, we developed Building Better Bridges (BBB), a caregiver coaching intervention that includes training on effective school communication, educational rights, advocacy, and child preparation strategies. We compared BBB (n = 83) to a module/resources-only comparison (n = 87) in a four-site randomized controlled trial in racially and ethnically diverse, under-resourced communities. In our intent-to-treat analysis, caregivers and teachers in BBB rated students' transitions to the new classroom as more positive, relative to the comparison group. Results suggest this low-cost intervention can improve the transition process for families and students at high risk of poor transitions.

Dual Identification: Trajectories to English Proficiency for English Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

BACKGROUND: There are an increasing number of English Learners (EL) served in schools, including children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, little is known about students who receive school-based services as EL and under autism eligibility. PURPOSE & METHODS: The present study aimed to examine the sociodemographic characteristics, time to English Language Proficient status by survival analysis, and predictors of English fluency utilizing a logistic regression for dually identified EL and autism eligible students in a large urban school district during the 2011-2019 academic school years. RESULTS: Overall, dually identified students (N = 849) educated in segregated settings (N = 372) became English proficient at lower rates and at older ages than students included in general education (N = 477). CONCLUSION: Students placed in segregated special education classrooms were significantly less likely to achieve English Language Proficient classification. The present study begins to illustrate the time to English proficiency of dually identified students and the potential impact it has on their educational opportunities.

Self-regulation predicts companionship in children with autism.

Self-regulation is associated with many positive outcomes in children with and without autism, including increased mental health and academic achievement, and decreased problem behavior. Less is known regarding whether and how self-regulation and symptoms of mental health challenges (internalizing and externalizing problems) relate to social outcomes, such as friendship quality and loneliness. Parents and teachers of 106 children with autism aged 5-12 reported on children's self-regulation difficulties and externalizing and internalizing symptoms. Four-to-five months later, children reported on the quality of their friendship with their best friend (companionship, conflict, helpfulness, sense of relationship security, closeness), and their feelings of loneliness. Linear regression was used to examine the effects of self-regulation and symptoms of mental health challenges on friendship quality and loneliness. Less self-regulation difficulties predicted stronger companionship and girls had better quality friendships with their best friend than did boys, in terms of companionship, helpfulness, security and closeness, confirming that they have a protective advantage in friendship development. Autism symptoms, IQ, and age were not associated with friendship quality or loneliness. Results highlight the importance of self-regulation and mental health interventions for school-aged children with autism.

Targeting IEP Social Goals for Children with Autism in an Inclusive Summer Camp.

Children with autism spectrum disorder demonstrate challenges in socialization that can interfere with their participation in common childhood activities and can persist or worsen if not addressed. The purpose of this study was to assess whether individualized education program (IEP) social goals could be targeted by a supervised paraprofessional during a short-term inclusive summer camp program. Data were collected using a concurrent multiple baseline design across four children. Results showed that following a 2-week summer camp program all participants made social improvements, reaching their year-long IEP goals, that maintained at follow-up in natural environments. Further, the paraprofessionals reached fidelity of implementation. Findings are discussed in terms of the value and feasibility of providing social interventions in inclusive summer camps.

Cambio terapéutico en el tratamiento de los trastornos alimentarios: Contenidos, factores facilitadores y obstaculizadores / Therapeutic change in the treatment of eating disorders: Contents, facilitating and hindering factors

Objetivo: Identificar factores facilitadores y obstaculizadores del cambio terapéutico en el tratamiento de pacientes con trastornos alimentarios (TA). Método: Estudio cualitativo-exploratorio, basado en la Grounded Theory. Se realizó un muestreo intencionado y entrevistas en profundidad a una muestra conformada en Chile por 20 pacientes de sexo femenino y 8 terapeutas y en Argentina por 4 pacientes y 6 terapeutas. Resultados: El cambio se presenta como punto de inflexión, en tanto las pacientes describen un momento en que logran reconocer la necesidad de cambiar. Posteriormente son capaces de verbalizar los contenidos de éste a diferentes niveles y en relación al TA. Conclusiones: Al conjugar aspectos facilitadores y obstaculizadores, y en la medida que los primeros sean preponderantes, irán surgiendo cambios que podrían articularse como componentes de la identidad.

Aim: To identify facilitating and hindering factors in the therapeutic change within the treatment of ED patients. Method: Qualitative-exploratory research, based on Grounded Theory. Purposive sampling and in-depth interviews were carried out in a sample of 20 patients and 8 therapists in Chile and 4 patients and 6 therapists in Argentina. Results: Therapeutic change occurred as a turning point in patients, which they described as a moment when they recognized the need for change. Subsequently, they were able to articulate the change as they experienced it in different areas of functioning. Conclusions: When combining facilitating and hindering aspects and the former overcome the latest, there will be changes that ultimately may be articulated in components of personal identity.