Early interventions for preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can result in substantial improvements across cognitive and communication outcomes.1 However, treatment response in this population is variable, ranging from optimal outcomes to minimal gains. 2,3 One factor that might contribute to variability in intervention outcomes is poor community implementation of evidence-based practices.45 (Dufek et al 2019). Research has identified collaboration dynamics among treatment team members as a malleable factor that contributes to intervention response and can be successfully modified to improving intervention outcomes in community settings. In order to investigate whether collaboration dynamics play a role in intervention outcomes for minimally verbal preschoolers that use AAC, we will use social network analysis to test the hypothesis that high collaboration among family and professionals working with minimally verbal children with ASD will enable high levels of diffusion and adoption of AAC, which will in turn yield better intervention outcomes.
The proposed project will investigate the degree to which the density of collaboration networks is associated with the diffusion and adoption of AAC strategies for minimally verbal preschoolers with ASD over time; determine barriers and facilitators to collaboration among team members and investigate how team collaboration influences the diffusion and adoption of AAC strategies for preschoolers with ASD and determine whether collaboration dynamics, as reflected in levels of diffusion and adoption of AAC strategies among team members, are associated with child intervention outcomes.
