Preliminary Efficacy of Family Implemented TEACCH for Toddlers: Effects on Parents and Their Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

This study examined the effects of an intervention to support parents and promote skill development in newly diagnosed toddlers with ASD. Participants included 50 children with ASD under 3 and their parents who were randomly assigned to participate in a 6-month intervention, Family Implemented TEACCH for Toddlers (FITT) or 6months of community services as usual. FITT included 90-min in-home sessions (n=20) and parent group sessions (n=4). Results revealed significant treatment effects on parent stress and well-being, with families in the FITT group showing decreased stress and improved well-being over time. While no treatment effects were found for global child measures, there were significant treatment effects on social communication skills.