Project Description:
The Transdisciplinary Services Project, a multi-year project with
EarlySteps, Louisiana's Early Intervention Program, was designed to develop and evaluate a transdisciplinary model of service delivery to support families of young children diagnosed withor at risk for being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, who are
currently enrolled in EarlySteps. The model incorporates
recommendations from the National Research Council (2001), including
early intervention, working directly with families of young children
with an autism spectrum disorder, using research based interventions
that target outcomes specific to the wants and needs of families and
children, frequent opportunities to teach and utilize developmental
skills and assisting families in the provision of 25 hours of
intervention each week. The Project will be based on a primary provider service model; the transdisciplinary teams will be composed of a primary (lead)interventionist/coach and other coaches (consultants). Primary serviceproviders will provide direct support to families on a weekly basis and consultants will provide support to the primary service providers and families on a less frequent, as needed basis. Teams will collaborate to share information and competencies, transfer roles and target outcomes identified by families across all developmental areas. Outcomes will not be specific to or predetermined by disciplines, like special instruction or speech language pathology. Evidence based interventions targeting family and child outcomes will be embedded in families' typically occurring routines and activities. The first part of the project will focus on developing, implementing and evaluating the
transdisciplinary model. In the latter half, transdisciplinary team
members will assist in the development of trainings, based upon the
model, to build the capacity of EarlySteps regional personnel, intake
coordinators, early intervention consultants, family service
coordinators and early intervention providers to support families and
young children at risk for or diagnosed with an autism spectrum
disorder. The project will take place in cities across Regions 1, 9 and 10; we are being more geographically centric so we support more families and collect more data to evaluate the effectiveness of the project. The trainings, which will be developed and implemented in the later part of the contract, will occur across the state.
We are anticipating great outcomes: families from diverse backgrounds able to learn, embed and utilize naturalistic intervention strategies with competence and confidence to improve their children's communication, social-interaction, motor and cognitive skills and decrease repetitive behavior; children meet outcomes and objects on their individualized family service plans; provide support through coaching in families' natural environments with fidelity; identify key components of team and transdisciplinary service delivery; develop, conduct and evaluate electronic and face to face trainings to early intervention providers enrolled in EarlySteps related to transdisciplinary service delivery and teaming with families of young children at risk for or diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Specific Groups
