Abstract

Families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in developing countries may not have as much access to needed behavioral services as families living in developed countries. Caregivers of children with ASD in developing countries would benefit from an affordable, efficient parent training to teach them behavior techniques to use with their children. Pyramidal training is a cost-efficient method of training individuals through peers and would be a supportive intervention for families in developing countries. This study used a repeated acquisition design across three variables to examine whether a caregiver could train another caregiver on three behavioral interventions. These interventions were appropriately redirecting repetitive behaviors, using praise, and requesting eye contact. The study also examined if the caregivers could acquire the three skills and the extent caregivers were receptive to this training model based on their comments about the training. The participants were six ethnic Macedonians or Albanians between the ages of 38 and 43 who were caregivers of a child with ASD. The results indicate the caregivers were able to train another caregiver on three skills for working with their child with autism, all the caregivers were able to acquire the three skills, and the training model's goals were socially appropriate based on participants' comments. This implicates professionals such as doctors, social workers, behavioral therapists, or school psychologists could use this form of parent training to share information throughout a family in order to benefit children with disabilities and their families.

Degree

EdS

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/