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Parent engagement in early behavioral intervention is essential to achieving meaningful intervention outcomes. However, parents may experience multiple barriers to engagement. The Parent-coaching Assessment, Individualization, and Response to Stressors (PAIRS) was developed to help practitioners assess families' barriers and facilitators, individualize their intervention, and respond to stressors using a contextual, functional approach. An expert panel of Board Certified Behavior Analysts ® (BCBAs) evaluated the content validity of the PAIRS. Average scale values (S-CVI/Ave) were 0.92 for relevance, 0.85 for effectiveness, and 0.91 for appropriateness. The PAIRS was revised, and a follow-up evaluation was conducted to rate the tool's utility. This led to the final version of the PAIRS. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.

Parent engagement in early behavioral intervention is essential to achieving meaningful intervention outcomes. However, parents may experience multiple barriers to engagement. The Parent-coaching Assessment, Individualization, and Response to Stressors (PAIRS) was developed to help practitioners assess families' barriers and facilitators, individualize their intervention, and respond to stressors using a contextual, functional approach. An expert panel of Board Certified Behavior Analysts ® (BCBAs) evaluated the content validity of the PAIRS. Average scale values (S-CVI/Ave) were 0.92 for relevance, 0.85 for effectiveness, and 0.91 for appropriateness. The PAIRS was revised, and a follow-up evaluation was conducted to rate the tool's utility. This led to the final version of the PAIRS. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed., Author(s): Cressida Pacia [sup.1] , Ciara Gunning [sup.1] , Aoife McTiernan [sup.1] , Jennifer Holloway [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.6142.1, 0000 0004 0488 0789, School of Psychology, National University of [...]

Supporting social competence in early childhood is associated with the development of friendships, positive outcomes across developmental domains, and preventing challenges in later life. However, within social skills interventions to improve social competence, identifying and selecting target social skills that are likely to be functional within a child's environment represent a complex challenge. In the current research, descriptive analysis was employed within the preschool context, to identify the common, functional social skills that typically developing children engage in, within naturally occurring social exchanges. Environmental variables possibly correlated with social behavior within the preschool context were analyzed. An analysis of the social antecedents and consequences for social behavior was also conducted. Specific social behaviors that are likely to be functional and developmentally appropriate within the preschool context were identified. Analyses of factors are discussed in terms of recommendations for developing social skills interventions for early educational settings.

Behaviour support plans (BSPs), if accurately implemented, have been found to increase skills and decrease challenging behaviour of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Training is essential for staff to acquire the skills necessary for accurate implementation. The aim of this systematic literature review was to evaluate procedures used to train staff in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), on both knowledge of PBS and implementation of BSPs. Systematic searches of 4 databases identified 18 studies as meeting criteria. Findings indicate that description alone was not consistently effective in increasing knowledge and should be used in combination with other training strategies. Staff's implementation of BSPs were increased by different combinations of the following training components: description, feedback, modelling, role-play, monitory incentive, and escape contingency. To identify evidenced based practice when training staff on BSPs, it is necessary to evaluate active and feasible training components from current training models.

Autism evidence-based practices (EBPs) are those with demonstrated improved outcomes for students with autism across a range of skill areas, yet issues persist in adopting these in classroom settings- particularly in general education (GE) settings. This research aimed to identify teacher training, years of experience, access to allied professionals and knowledge and use of autism EBPs in GE settings in Ireland. 369 mainstream primary school teachers reported their characteristics and their knowledge and use of EBPs. Results indicated that the majority of teachers received little initial teacher education training in autism, almost no continuous professional development (CPD) before educating a child with autism, and received little support from allied professionals. Knowledge and use of EBPs differed significantly across teacher characteristics, with findings discussed in relation to teacher training.

Supporting social competence in early childhood is associated with the development of friendships, positive outcomes across developmental domains, and preventing challenges in later life. However, within social skills interventions to improve social competence, identifying and selecting target social skills that are likely to be functional within a child's environment represent a complex challenge. In the current research, descriptive analysis was employed within the preschool context, to identify the common, functional social skills that typically developing children engage in, within naturally occurring social exchanges. Environmental variables possibly correlated with social behavior within the preschool context were analyzed. An analysis of the social antecedents and consequences for social behavior was also conducted. Specific social behaviors that are likely to be functional and developmentally appropriate within the preschool context were identified. Analyses of factors are discussed in terms of recommendations for developing social skills interventions for early educational settings., Author(s): Ciara Gunning [sup.1], Jennifer Holloway [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.6142.1, 0000 0004 0488 0789, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, , Galway, Ireland Introduction Early childhood friendships [...]

Autism evidence-based practices (EBPs) are those with demonstrated improved outcomes for students with autism across a range of skill areas, yet issues persist in adopting these in classroom settings- particularly in general education (GE) settings. This research aimed to identify teacher training, years of experience, access to allied professionals and knowledge and use of autism EBPs in GE settings in Ireland. 369 mainstream primary school teachers reported their characteristics and their knowledge and use of EBPs. Results indicated that the majority of teachers received little initial teacher education training in autism, almost no continuous professional development (CPD) before educating a child with autism, and received little support from allied professionals. Knowledge and use of EBPs differed significantly across teacher characteristics, with findings discussed in relation to teacher training., Author(s): Lorna Barry [sup.1] , Jennifer Holloway [sup.2] , Stephen Gallagher [sup.3] , Jennifer McMahon [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.10049.3c, 0000 0004 1936 9692, i-TEACH Lab, Department of Psychology, University [...]

Parental involvement in intervention can support intervention efficacy, improve generalization, and increase accessibility. The Preschool Life Skills (PLS) program is designed to teach 13 preschool life skills and prevent problem behavior. The current study explores the utility of the PLS program as delivered by parents. In Experiment 1, 6 parents were taught to use the PLS program at home with their typically developing children (3 years 3 months to 4 years 11 months). This application of the PLS program led to an increase in preschool life skills and a decrease in problem behavior and supported some generalization of the target preschool life skills from the home to preschool settings. In Experiment 2, 7 parents were taught to use the PLS program with their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; 3 years 11 months to 6 years 9 months). Results overall supported the parent implementation of the program and highlighted modifications required to support positive outcomes for children with ASD.

The current research evaluates the effectiveness of a behavioral skills training (BST) package used to increase appropriate conversation interactions for six adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Deficits in the area of social skills can become a significant feature for individuals with disabilities and in particular for those with ASD. A multiple probe design across participant dyads was employed to examine the effects of the intervention on conversation interactions. The BST package was delivered in small group instruction and included (i) instructions about having a conversation, (ii) modeling a conversation, (iii) practicing a conversation, and (iv) feedback on performance during each session. Results indicated that BST was effective for increasing appropriate conversation interactions for all six participants, and maintenance was evident 4 weeks post intervention. The findings were discussed in relation to the importance of social interactions and communication amongst this population.

Communication deficits in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can manifest in a myriad of lifelong social and educational challenges. Many children with ASD fail to learn vocal verbal behavior and may require intensive individualized intervention to learn early verbal operants. The current research aimed to evaluate the effects of a parent delivered stimulus-stimulus pairing (SSP) procedure on target vocalizations of two young children with ASD who did not present with vocal verbal behavior. Results indicated the intervention was successful in increasing the frequency of the target vocalizations for both participants. Social validity results indicated that parents were satisfied with the intervention and their own implementation of these procedures. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for parent delivered interventions.

The current study employed a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the use of peer tutoring and fluency-based instruction to increase mathematics fluency with addition and subtraction computation skills. Forty-one elementary school students between the ages of eight and 12 years participated in the 8-week study using cross-age peer tutoring, Say All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffled, frequency building, and the morningside math facts curriculum (Johnson in "Morningside mathematics fluency: math facts" (vol 1-6; curriculum program), Morningside Press, Seattle, 2008). Pre- and post-test measures of mathematics fluency and calculation were conducted with all participants. A measure of social skills and competing problem behaviors was also conducted at pre- and post-testing to evaluate any additional effects of the peer tutoring model. The results demonstrated a statistically significant difference between groups on measures of mathematics fluency, with the experimental group demonstrating significantly higher scores than the control group at post-testing. There were no significant differences between groups on measures of social skills and competing problem behaviors or calculation. The findings indicate that cross-age peer tutoring and fluency-based instruction resulted in positive outcomes for tutees in the mathematics domain, specifically mathematics fluency.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are faced with significant barriers relating to employment opportunities and workplace participation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Walker social skills curriculum: the ACCESS program and video modeling to increase social communication skills necessary for workplace inclusion. Participants attended two sessions (i.e., 3 h) per week across a period of 20 weeks. A multiple-probe design was used to demonstrate social skills outcomes across three broad curricular areas (i.e., peer-related, adult-related, and self-related social skills). Pre-and post-intervention standardized assessments were also taken. Results showed significant increases in target social skills and a significant decrease in problem behaviors following intervention. Evidence of maintenance and generalization were also demonstrated. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

A randomized controlled trial was used to evaluate the impact of a frequency-building curriculum to increase the fluency of component mathematics skills in a sample of 28 males aged 9-11 years. Assessments of mathematical ability were conducted before and after the training period to evaluate the impact of learning component skills fluently on endurance, stability and application of mathematical skills. Statistically significant differences between the experimental training group and treatment-as-usual control group were found on measures of fluency, endurance, stability and one subtest of the Wechsler Individual Achievement test of mathematical ability. Results indicate the efficacy of the frequency-building curriculum in promoting fluency with component skills. Results are discussed in light of research and theory in the area of instructional design and behavioral fluency enhancement.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are faced with significant barriers relating to employment opportunities and workplace participation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Walker social skills curriculum: the ACCESS program and video modeling to increase social communication skills necessary for workplace inclusion. Participants attended two sessions (i.e., 3 h) per week across a period of 20 weeks. A multiple-probe design was used to demonstrate social skills outcomes across three broad curricular areas (i.e., peer-related, adult-related, and self-related social skills). Pre-and post-intervention standardized assessments were also taken. Results showed significant increases in target social skills and a significant decrease in problem behaviors following intervention. Evidence of maintenance and generalization were also demonstrated. Implications for practice and research are discussed., Author(s): Edith Walsh [sup.1] , Jennifer Holloway [sup.1] , Helena Lydon [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (Aff1) 0000 0004 0488 0789, grid.6142.1, School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, , Galway, Ireland [...]

In this article the author describes how she teaches third and sixth grade classes about the six essential elements of geography at the beginning of each school year. The six elements organize the eighteen national standards and include: the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems, environment and society, and the uses of geography. The purpose for teaching this lesson is for students to learn to use the elements to help them study the world and organize their ideas. The elements come from "Geography for Life" (Boehm and Bednarz 1994), which was first published in 1994 by the Geography Education National Implementation Project (GENIP). The second edition was released in 2012 (Heffron and Downs 2012). "Geography for Life" includes three major components: geographic perspectives, knowledge, and skills.