Project description

This project aims to develop, validate and implement a parental guidance-type intervention for families with an autistic preschooler. Parental guidance is a type of intervention with demonstrated effectiveness, according to the highest research standards. Parental guidance interventions can help promote feelings of competence and well-being within families.

This project has several stages, on which the group has been working for several years: a) theoretical elaboration of the framework principles of the intervention, b) construction of the project, c) building the intervention manual, d) piloting of the clinical trial, e) feasibility study, f) efficiency study. To date, the intervention manual has been created, and the intervention piloted with 4 families. Recruitment is currently underway to test acceptability and feasibility in current network services.

It is an intervention administered as soon as the diagnosis of autism is announced, therefore requiring strong links between the diagnostic team and the CLSC intervention teams on the front line. The intervention is made up of parent group sessions, during which general concepts are taught (autism, organization of the environment and predictability, communication, interests and strengths) and during which we answer specific questions from families. Thereafter, each family will receive individual sessions applying these principles to their child. The number of these sessions may vary depending on the needs of each family, but are around 10 sessions in total. The sessions will take place at the CLSC, at home, or at the daycare; so as to facilitate access to interventions in the various contexts of the child's life.

This project should demonstrate that it is possible to deliver early intervention autism services without a waiting list, to the satisfaction of users, until the school system is able to take over with autism-specific education services.