Applying a User-Centered Design Framework to Develop a Remote Research Assessment Protocol for a Randomized Clinical Trial for Toddlers with Early Autism Characteristics.

COVID-19 required many research teams to shift from in-person to remote assessments, which posed both procedural and theoretical challenges. While research has explored the utility of remote assessments for autism diagnosis from the perspective of families and clinicians, less is known about their application in clinical trials. This paper describes the development of a remote research assessment protocol for a randomized clinical trial focusing on the implementation of reciprocal imitation teaching (RIT) with toddlers in Part C early intervention.

Telehealth Delivery in Part C Early Intervention: Provider and Caregiver Perspectives.

Telehealth is a promising modality for Part C early intervention (EI), services typically implemented face-to-face in home and community settings. Barriers to telehealth in EI reported prior to COVID-19 included lack of training and access to reliable internet. The abrupt telehealth shift at the onset of the pandemic did not permit a phased adoption approach.

The implementation of reciprocal imitation training in a Part C early intervention setting: A stepped-wedge pragmatic trial.

Despite the development of several evidence-based Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs), very few have been adapted for use in community-based settings. This study examines the implementation of Reciprocal Imitation Training (RIT)-an NDBI-by community Early Intervention (EI; IDEA Part C) providers serving toddlers from birth to 3 years. Of the 87 EI providers enrolled from 9 agencies in 4 counties across Washington State, 66 were included in the current sample.

Characterizing Available Tools for Synchronous Virtual Assessment of Toddlers with Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Brief Report.

The COVID-19 pandemic, and associated social distancing mandates, has placed significant limitations on in-person health services, requiring creative solutions for supporting clinicians engaged in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This report describes the five virtual instruments available at the time of manuscript development for use by experienced clinicians making diagnostic determinations of ASD for toddlers across the 12- to 36-months age range. We focus on synchronous virtual assessments in which clinicians guide the child's caregiver through a range of assessment activities and observe spontaneous and elicited behaviors.