Project Title: Longitudinal Evaluation of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Graduating from the St. Amant Applied Behaviour Analysis Early Intervention Program
Investigators: Dr. C. T. Yu & Dr. Toby Martin
Project Coordinator: Ms. Carly Chand, M.A.
Affiliations: St.Amant Research Centre and Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba
Research Sponsor: Department of Family Services and Consumer Affairs

Introduction

We are studying children with Autism who have received services from St. Amant’s ABA Preschool Program and comparing them to children who have not received this service. We will collect information through a combination of standardized child assessments, parent questionnaires, and with parental permission, teacher questionnaires. Most measures will be taken annually and some quarterly, over a period of up to 8 years.

Purpose

We are interested in how these outcomes are related to factors such as the learning environments at school and home, diagnosis, developmental characteristics, past learning in any treatment programs they may be in, and parent stress.

Significance of Study

This project is important because the results will help us better understand the long-term impact of ABA early intervention, it may help to improve early intervention programs in the future, and inform us of early predictors of outcomes for school age children.