{"id":723,"date":"2024-11-21T00:04:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T00:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains\/early-childhood-voices-conference-2024\/?p=723"},"modified":"2024-11-21T00:07:35","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T00:07:35","slug":"ecv2024-455","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earlychildhoodresearch.csu.domains\/early-childhood-voices-conference-2024\/ecv2024-455\/","title":{"rendered":"ECV2024-455 – Effectiveness of the ASD social communication group intervention in a resource constraint context: Case study in Fiji"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Presentation - ECV2024-455<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Effectiveness of the ASD social communication group intervention in
a resource constraint context: Case study in Fiji<\/h1>\n

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N. K. Chamila Sewwandi<\/strong>, Frank Hilton Organisation, Suva, Fiji (chamila.s@hilton.org.fj)
Haritha Amunugama<\/strong>, Frank Hilton Organisation, Suva, Fiji. (haritha.a@hilton.org.fj)
Dira Ah Kee<\/strong>, Frank Hilton Organisation, Suva, Fiji (dira@hilton.org.fj)
Tiahli Ricketts<\/strong>, Frank Hilton Organisation, Suva, Fiji ( tiahli.r@hilton.org.fj)<\/p>\n

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Background: <\/strong>With autism affecting 1 in 100 people globally, there is a growing need for innovative service delivery methods, especially in resource-constrained settings (RCSs). The implementation of social communication groups for children with autism would suggest an effective and efficient evidence-based service delivery model to support communication in the context of a lack of speech pathologists (SLPs) and behavioural therapists to manage a high caseload of children awaiting individual management and minimise the health disparity experienced by children with autism in Fiji.<\/p>\n

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Aims: <\/strong>To evaluate the effectiveness of an outpatient parent-child social communication group for Fijian children with suspected or confirmed autism.<\/p>\n

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Method:<\/strong> Fifteen children at risk for autism (Male: n = 13, Female: n = 2), with a mean age of 52.66 months, and their parents participated in a 10-week outpatient therapy program at the Frank Hilton Organisation speech pathology clinic in Suva, Fiji. All caregivers provided consent to use outcomes data for research. The program comprised one-hour weekly sessions, including theory and play-based sessions targeting linguistic facilitation techniques, play-based floor time, and behavioural management led by an SLP and a Positive Behavioural Support Officer. The post-evaluation questionnaire, which parents completed, underwent analysis using descriptive statistical methods and thematic analysis.<\/p>\n

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Results:<\/strong> Preliminary results suggest that in response to the therapy provided, outcomes included (a) heightened parents\u2019 responsiveness to their child\u2019s communication attempts, (b) increased social skills; initiation of social interaction, eye contact, imitation skills, and joint engagement, (c) enhanced functional communication using gestures, words, or AAC, (d) improved comprehension and (e) decreased frequency of challenging behaviours.<\/p>\n

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Conclusions:<\/strong> Social communication groups effectively deliver services to improve social communication skills in Fijian children with autism, especially with limited clinical resources.<\/p>\n

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Implications for children and families:<\/strong> Increased parental responsiveness during daily routine activities and play supports the language and communication development of children with autism.<\/p>\n

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Implications for practitioners:<\/strong>\u00a0Interdisciplinary social communication group interventions are efficient for supporting children with autism and their families in resource-constrained settings.<\/p>\n

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Key words<\/strong>: autism, social communication, resource-constraint countries, interdisciplinary practice<\/p>\n

This presentation relates to the following <\/strong>United Nations Sustainable Development Goals<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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