Adaptive Interventions for Minimally Verbal Children With ASD in the Community

Interventions:

- CORE-DTT is based on behavioral learning theory in which communication and related
skills are taught through systematic direct instruction. The goal of CORE-DTT is to help
children be successful in learning communication skills by breaking these skills down
into small steps, providing systematic direct instruction on each step, and reinforcing
children (e.g., with praise or access to preferred items) for demonstrating skills.
Imitation and attention skills are a main focus early in intervention. DTT is the most
common evidence-based approach for teaching children with ASD, and is often considered
the closest to a 'standard of practice' for the field. The participants in the proposed
study will have had at least 1 year of previous intervention, likely in an ABA program
with DTT as a main strategy. While many children will have been exposed to DTT prior to
entering this trial, it is important to insure that children (a) receive quality DTT,
and (b) have exposure to CORE elements related to language learning, specifically joint
attention and requesting gestures, in order to make the comparison with JASP-EMT.

- JASP-EMT is a developmentally anchored behavioral intervention that assumes that
communication develops from social interactions in which specific social engagement
strategies, symbolic representations, and early communication forms are modeled and
naturally reinforced by adult partner responses to the child. The goal of JASP-EMT is to
increase (a) joint engagement, (b) initiating joint attention gestures, (c) social play
involving objects and persons, and (d) verbal and nonverbal communication by
facilitating meaningful social interactions. The social interaction foundation of
JASP-EMT is critical. Modeling and expansions of communicative behaviors and play are
used strategically within meaningful social interactions with therapists and caregivers.
For minimally verbal children with autism, meaningful social interaction is essential
for establishing the platform on which language input and development will be built.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Clinical diagnosis of autism

- At least 4 years, 6 months old, and not older than 8 years, 0 months

- Displays less than 20 spontaneous, unique, and socially communicative words during
screening assessments

- At least 18 months developmental age

- Currently in school

Exclusion Criteria:

- Diagnosis of syndrome or degenerative disorder

- Poorly controlled seizures