ERIC Number: EJ1430212
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024-Jul
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2578-4218
EISSN: EISSN-2578-4226
Interprofessional Education on Autism and Intellectual Disabilities: Program Description and Initial Evaluation
Johanna R. Price; Karena Cooper-Duffy; Billy T. Ogletree; Jonathan M. Campbell; Amy J. Rose; Machelle Cathey; Kong Chen
School Psychology, v39 n4 p419-432 2024
Project INTERprofessional Autism Collaborative Training (INTERACT) is an interprofessional education program designed to prepare graduate students in psychology, special education, and speech-language pathology to work with autistic children with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. The rising prevalence of autism, coupled with increased appreciation for interprofessional approaches to service delivery, indicates the need for university training programs to prepare graduate students to work interprofessionally with this population; yet descriptions of such programs and their effectiveness are not reported in the literature. In this article, we explain the process through which an interprofessional faculty team developed Project INTERACT, describe the sequence of coursework and team-based clinical experiences that comprise the program, and present preliminary data regarding its effectiveness. Twenty-four graduate students in psychology, special education, and speech-language pathology participated in this quantitative study. We report results from three rating scales that participants completed at program entry, midpoint, and program exit. Participants endorsed positive attitudes toward interprofessional practice and demonstrated high levels of knowledge about autism. Self-rated knowledge and abilities in interprofessional practice increased significantly by program exit. Project INTERACT scholars developed knowledge and skills related to understanding, assessing, and treating autistic children with intellectual disabilities, through the lens of team-based interprofessional collaboration. We discuss implications for practice with Project INTERACT.
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Intellectual Disability, Interprofessional Relationship, Graduate Study, Students with Disabilities, College Faculty, Teamwork, Program Development, Program Evaluation, Program Effectiveness, Knowledge Level, Positive Attitudes, School Psychologists, Special Education, Speech Language Pathology, Allied Health Personnel
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: North Carolina
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A