Communication Complexity Scale (CCS) scores for 269 minimally verbal participants were examined to determine if communicator behavior and task and communicator characteristics were related to scores in a manner consistent with theoretical and research evidence expectations. Each participant completed an interactive assessment with 6 joint…

Using a mobile health application (i.e., app) to empower primary caregivers of young children with developmental disorders in low- and middle-income countries is opening up new avenues for early childhood intervention. Thirteen caregivers and 10 speech-language pathologists participated in 3 focus groups to explore their perspectives about the…

Social and emotional (SE) skills are "individual capacities that (a) are manifested in consistent patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, (b) can be developed through formal and informal learning experiences, and (c) influence important socioeconomic outcomes throughout the individual's life" (Organisation for Economic…

Developmental research during COVID-19 suggests that pandemic-related disruptions in family relationships are associated with children's mental health. Most of this research has focused on 1 child per family, thereby obfuscating patterns that are differentially operative at the family-wide (i.e., between-family) versus child-specific (i.e.,…

The use of mobile devices has become a major medium of leisure engagement for the general population. However, individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience disparities in technology access, which may limit their engagement in mobile device-based leisure. Little research has examined procedures for teaching individuals with ID to…

This study assessed the potential short-term effects of COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions on ratings of ASD and comorbid symptoms severity and adaptive functioning of 69 youth, ages 8-16 years with ASD without intellectual disability. Parent/caregiver ratings were being collected in fall and spring over approximately two years when the…

We examine the syntactic structures exhibited by persons with dementia in conversation. Traditionally, research on the linguistic abilities of persons with dementia is either observational (reports kept by caregivers) or experimental (e.g. based on comprehension tasks), and the focus is not on the syntactic competence of the speaker. We combine…

We provided evidence regarding the reliability and validity of measures of assets and life satisfaction (LS) for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We identified levels of LS within this population, compared these levels to those of typically developing adolescents, and described the relation between assets and LS. Forty-six…

Background: Individuals with intellectual disability are subject to stigmatization, even among those providing services to them. Method: Employees from an intermediate care facility (n = 97) and undergraduate students (n = 92) completed measures on their attitudes, beliefs of etiological causes and endorsement of helpful treatments and supports.…

This study explored early years' practitioners' and teachers' attitudes and confidence in delivering the UK Physical Activity guidelines [National Health Service (NHS). (2013). "Physical activity guidelines for children and young people." Retrieved July 15, 2015, from…

Caregiver strain is directly impacted by youth symptom severity and is a robust predictor of youth mental health service utilization. A closer examination of caregiver strain may provide important insights into understanding mental health disparities as they affect Latino families. This study examined the impact of youth problem type on specific…

This exploratory study considers young carers' perceptions of factors contributing to their adjustment and benefit finding within their caregiving role. Benefit-finding, defined as the "process of deriving positive growth from adversity", is a key construct within the domain of positive psychology. A strengths-based perspective was…

Training courses on autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are required to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of children attending schools and care centers with a diagnosis of this condition internationally. A 14-day active learning course was developed based on three self-contained workshops which took place nationally in Iran over a 6 month…

Background: Paperwork can transform organisational aims into action in group homes, but it can also be problematic for staff. The aim of this study was to explore frontline staff perspectives on paperwork in group homes for people with intellectual disability. Methods: Constructivist grounded theory methodology guided the study. Data were…

Intervention services positively impact outcomes of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families. However, families face many burdens when accessing high-quality intervention services such as availability of providers, time, and cost; these burdens are often magnified for underserved families. Therefore, the purpose of this…