Adapting an Autism Early Support Program for a Lower Income Family: A Case Study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: Completed

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 1

Inclusion Criteria

This study will include one parent/caregiver (herein collectively referred to as parent) of a child who is under the age of five who is, or is likely to be, autistic. The parent will also meet the following inclusion criteria: (1) lower income as defined as being eligible for or receiving an income-tested benefit or a community services card (A community services card (CSC) assists families with the costs of healthcare in New Zealand. This initiative is income-based and targets lower income New Zealand families/whanau), (2) speaks sufficient English to understand study requirements, written content, and to participate in one-on-one sessions, and (3) consents to being involved in the case study. The first eligible parent to make contact and provide informed consent will be included. Any of the child’s caregivers may participate, including parents of any gender, step parents, and extended whanau members. The family will be asked to elect one person to be the primary participant who will attend all sessions, fill in all surveys and take part in the semi-structured interview. Other parents/caregivers and/or extended whanau members may choose to participate in the program sessions and semi-structured interview if they wish.

Exclusion Criteria

1. The participant is not a primary caregiver of an autistic child.

Study & Design

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Parent perceptions and experiences of the adapted support program explored through a semi structured interview, with questions designed specifically for this study.[ Within two weeks of the conclusion of the program.];Parent indication of the acceptability of the program measured using the Treatment Acceptability Rating Form - Revised (TARF-R).[ Within two weeks prior to beginning the program, and repeated within two weeks of the program concluding.];Parent perception of their and their child's experience attending each session and the fit of the program to their family measured using a check-in survey developed for this study, based on a survey used by Tupou et al. (2022).<br><br>Jessica Tupou, Chevelle Ataera & Hannah Waddington (2022) Exploring one Whanau Maori’s experience with an autism support program: a case study, Research and Practice in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, DOI: 10.1080/23297018.2022.2051197[ The survey will be completed in week three and week six of the program.]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Parent rating as to how helpful each of the adaptations strategies were using a Likert-type scale in a questionnaire designed for this study.[ Within two weeks of the program concluding.];Rate of parent attendance will be measured through the use of a study-specific attendance/cancellation log tracking the number of sessions attended, cancelled, or rescheduled. This data will be recorded in a table, with a column for noting reasons for cancellations where these are provided. [ This information will be recorded for each of the sessions.];Attendance by extended family members at sessions, along with a note as to the relationships of the family member to the parent participant, will be recorded in a study-specific checklist/table. [ This information will be recorded for each of the sessions.]