Project Description:
Lsquared*-Spanish: Supporting Spanish-speaking families to increase emergent literacy and language of their children with autism through story-based instruction. Autism Grant Program: 2019-2020 Parent-Directed Treatment funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Funded $191,161 for 2 years (2019-2020).
Investigators: Thompson, J. L. (PI), Fogarty, M. (Co-PI)
*Lsquared stands for: Exponentially increasing language and literacy through high quality literacy instruction parent training
1. Project Description
a. We are serving Spanish-speaking families in Texas with preschool and elementary-aged children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Our goals are to serve 115 Spanish-speaking families, train 5 community service providers serving Spanish-speaking families, improve parent emotional well-being, and increase language and literacy skills of Spanish-speaking children with ASD. We will achieve this by engaging in high-impact recruitment strategies, developing culturally adapted Spanish-translated reading and communication materials, taking part in regular evaluation and continuous improvement, and using behavior skills training to train parents and community service providers in the following evidence-based strategies: story-based instruction, augmentative and alternative communication, conversation expansion, and positive behavior supports. In response to Covid-19 we have moved all our training online and are serving families across the state using Zoom. We mail books and training materials directly to the parents.
2. Funding Information (amount and source)
a. We received 191, 161 from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Autism Grant Program
3. Number of participants:
a. We have trained 43 teachers in San Antonio ESC region 20 (no demographic info available) and indirectly supported 127 students with autism (the number of students served by those teachers)
b. We have provided direct training to 68 families so far (68 parents and 70 children with autism) all are Hispanic. All children aged between 3yrs and 12 yrs of age. By the end of the project we plan to serve 55
4. Evaluation Data
a. Our data are demographic data on parents/children with autism
b. Count of teachers trained
c. Three rating scales:
i. Zarit Burden Scale (Pre-Post)
ii. Family Empowerment Scale (Pre-Post)
iii. Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (pre only)
5. Partners (who worked with you on these projects)
a. Dr. Melissa Fogarty has provided literacy expertise to support development of the reading materials and activities.
6. Products developed (flyers, website, newsletter, curriculum, poster or research papers, presentations, etc.)
a. See blinc.tamu.edu for website.
b. We have created an Early Reading Curriculum for Story-based Instruction
c. I have three papers in preparation:
i. Thompson, J. L., Dong, X., & Dunn, C. Preliminary results of an emergent literacy program to improve the home literacy environment of children with autism spectrum disorder.
ii. Thompson, J. L., Dunn, C. Comparing the home literacy environment of children with autism spectrum disorder to their typical peers one story at a time.
iii. Prickett, C., Dunn, C., Gilson, C., & Thompson, J. L. A pilot study on service provision factors affecting caregivers experiences with autism treatment.
d. Presentations/posters:
i. Prickett, C., Dunn, C., & Thompson, J. L. (2020, February). Service provision factors affecting caregivers experiences with autism treatment: A focus group summary. Poster presentation at the Annual Autism Conference, Association for Behavior Analysis International, Miami, FL.
ii. Thompson, J. L., Dunn, C. (2019, October). Improving language and literacy skills of children with autism via parent coaching. Division for Early Childhoods 35th Annual International Conference on Young Children with Special Needs and their Families, Dallas, Texas.
iii. Thompson, J. L. (2019, August). Improving language and early reading skills through shared-story reading. 27th Annual Texas Autism Conference, San Antonio, Texas.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Specific Groups
