Although function-based treatments have been proven to decrease challenging behavior, it is unclear whether these results translate to socially significant outcomes. In fact, researchers rarely analyze what happens outside the highly controlled setting in which behavior analytic sessions typically occur. In our first study, we used a changing…

Families that have children with ASD may experience increased stress due to a variety of factors, one of these factors being managing difficult behaviors. One area of behavioral difficulty that children with ASD experience is transitioning between activities. The Social Story is one intervention that has been studied as a transition support both…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is expressed quite differently from person to person due to the spectrum of symptoms an individual may experience. Developmentally, children who have ASD manage issues with communication and restricted or repetitive behaviors that impact their activities of daily living and/or…

As the prevalence of children diagnosed with autism continues to rise, the need for high quality parent coaching practices to ensure generalization of skills targeting in early intervention services is pronounced. This mixed methods study investigated the results of implementation of a parent coaching treatment package developed in alignment with…

This dissertation consists of four related chapters including an introductory overview of all four chapters, a report on family needs, a report on family quality of life, and a summary of implications for the conceptual framework. Chapter 1, the introductory overview, presents background information of Taiwan and describes the family quality of…

Quality of life (QOL) is the underlying goal of all rehabilitation interventions. Researchers and policy makers have proposed that QOL is an important and useful way to measure the impact of services. However, conceptual ambiguity, difficulty with operational definitions and measurement, and the inherent vulnerability to value bias have challenged…

This study sought to understand how the Army Family Team Building program influences self-reliance and self-sufficiency in Army spouses as they integrate into the Army community. The purpose of the Army Family Team Building program is to empower Army spouses with knowledge and skills, which foster well-being and improve quality of life. The…

Problem behavior significantly impedes multiple aspects of quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities, and thus represents a major priority for intervention. Psychotropic medications are commonly administered to treat such behavior; however, these agents are often associated with adverse side effects that may have a negative…

Families of children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit decreases in cohesion and adaptability, increased social isolation (Higgins et al., 2005), higher levels of marital dissatisfaction (Hastings et al., 2005), and overall disruption to daily life (Bristol et al., 1988). Research has provided evidence of higher levels of stress,…