Development and Pilot Testing of the Students With Autism Accessing General Education (SAAGE) Model

This project brings together the expertise of investigators at three centers to develop and conduct a pilot test of a new comprehensive intervention to increase the quality of educational services and access to inclusive settings for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in elementary school (kindergarten through 5th grade). The intervention model, Students with Autism Accessing General Education (SAAGE), integrates evidence-based strategies to teach skills to students with ASD in schools, best practices derived from this literature by the project investigators, a recent guidebook written by the principal investigator, and research on collaboration with community providers such as school teams to implement interventions efficaciously and sustainably. SAAGE begins with strategies to help a school form a cohesive team to oversee implementation of the model in the school. For each student, SAAGE uses a modular approach for identifying goals for a student, selecting appropriate teaching strategies, and systematically monitoring progress and trouble-shooting. The modules center on core and associated features of ASD. Study personnel will use well established behavioral skills training procedures to coach educators to implement the modules.

Inclusion criteria

Children subjects:

• Are enrolled in school grades kindergarten through 5th
• Have an IEP educational classification of Autism, confirmed by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition, and DSM-5 checklist
• No planned changes in school placement or core team members during the school year of participation

Adult subjects (teachers, para educators):

• Instructional personnel who currently support a participating child with ASD at school (e.g., teacher, instructional assistant, speech pathologist, occupational therapist)
• Letter from instructional personnel's district or school indicating agreement to take part in the research project

Exclusion criteria

Children subjects • Diagnosis of (1) genetic disorders such as Fragile X, Down syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis; 2) profound vision or hearing loss; or (3) motor disabilities such as cerebral palsy (these multiple disabilities would prevent standard implementation of the intervention protocol).

Adult subjects

• Instructional personnel whose written consent was not obtained