Fit Families Program: Fundamental Motor Skill Intervention in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders and Their Parents
Autism Spectrum Disorder
About this trial
This is an interventional other trial for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Eligibility Criteria
Parents (one per family) and children with ASD ages 4 to 11 will be included (recruited as a dyad).
Inclusion Criteria:
- ASD must be the primary disability of the child
- Children will be considered to have ASD if they score above the clinical cutoff or 15 on both the lifetime and current versions of the SCQ. Diagnostic severity of ASD will not be a factor in recruitment.
- Children must be able to participate in the program activities.
- Children must be ambulatory and able to follow verbal or picture directions with support
- Children with significant communication needs will still be considered for the study
- No age restriction for adults (parents of children with ASD)
- Parents should be ambulatory and not have any restriction to do physical activity
Exclusion Criteria:
- Parents of children with other primary disabilities, or parents who do not have children with ASD will be excluded.
- Participants cannot exhibit aggressive behavior
- Children who are non-ambulatory, or participants (children) with significant behavioral or sensory impairments will also be excluded based on application information, including existing behavior intervention plans and existing school information
Sites / Locations
- University of Wisconsin
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Experimental
Experimental
No Intervention
Workshop group
Home-based group
wait-listed home-based group
Participants in the workshop group will be offered four one-day workshops (3-hours each) covering topics of 1) Sensory Integration, 2) Communication, 3) Aquatic Opportunities, and 4) Physical activity and Sports (during intervention)-[Parents and Children-Workshop Group]. In addition to the workshops, this group and the home-based group will receive information (activity booklets) and physical education (physical activity)-related equipment.
Participants in the home-based group will not participate in the four half-day workshops, but they will receive the same information (activity booklets) and physical activity equipment as the workshop group (during intervention)-[Parents and Children-Home Group].
Wait-list home-based group will serve as the control group (during intervention)-[Parents and Children-Control Group]. This group will be instructed to continue their typical routines and activities for the duration of the intervention. They will be asked to attend the pre and posttest, as well as a follow up three weeks and 3 months after the completion of the 12-week period. Immediately following the follow-up test (3 months after the intervention), participants in the wait-list home-based group will be offered the home-based program (e.g., receiving the same intervention protocol and materials (physical education equipment and lesson plans/workbook) following all procedures as described for that group previously.