Tizard Learning Disability Review最新文献

Purpose

Evidence-informed decision-making is considered best practice when choosing interventions in applied settings across health, social care and education. Developing that evidence base, however, is not straightforward. The pupose of this paper is to describe the process implemented by the Sharland Foundation Developmental Disabilities Applied Behavioural Research and Impact Network (SF-DDARIN) that systematically develops an evidence base for behaviorally based interventions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this case study, the progressive research steps undertaken by the SF-DDARIN to develop the evidence base for an online reading intervention, the Headsprout® Early Reading programme (HER®), which uses behavioural principles to promote learning to read, are described.

Findings

A series of discrete projects targeting gaps in the evidence base for HER^® led to funding two randomised controlled trials in England, one in education and one in health and social care.

Originality/value

This case study illustrates an original, creative and effective way of collaborating across academic research departments and applied settings to extend the evidence base for a chosen intervention systematically.

Purpose

This commentary discusses the paper by Reardon et al. (2024; this issue) entitled, “Overcoming implementation challenges through using a train-the-trainer approach to teach numeracy in a special school setting.” This commentary outlines the necessary contribution this paper adds to the substantive area of research it is couched within while also identifying potential areas of future research to expand the understanding of this phenomenon and its impact upon practice.

Design/methodology/approach

What is fidelity of implementation, how do we measure it and how does it impact our interpretations of experimental findings? This commentary focuses specifically on the nebulous construct of fidelity in experimental studies and how this impacts experimental findings’ internal and external validity.

Findings

Although fidelity is frequently referenced as an important aspect to consider, the measurement of the construct has been critiqued in experimental studies. To understand if an intervention was “implemented as intended,” the core dimensions of the intervention must be considered in the measurement process, as well as potential confounding variables.

Originality/value

With an increased need for experimental work to inform what works, for whom and under what conditions, there becomes a need to better investigate the implementation of the intervention in these contexts – thus, fidelity must be reconceptualized. This commentary provides an overview of this dilemma with potential ideas to investigate moving forward.

Purpose

This paper aims to endorse and elaborate on the recommendations put forward by the Sharland Foundation Developmental Disabilities Applied Behavioural Research and Impact Network (SF-DDARIN), emphasising their significance in the field of developmental disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper outlines a specific point of view. The first section focuses on integrating developmental theory and advanced technology in interventions for developmental disabilities. Subsequently, the commentary explores virtual reality (VR) and generative artificial intelligence (AI) for enhancing social skills and personalising support. Finally, the piece highlights innovations like SocialWise VR and Custom Generative Pre-Trained Transformers in aligning interventions with developmental stages.

Findings

Technologies like VR and generative AI hold vast potential to revolutionise how clinicians provide timely and relevant knowledge to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Research limitations/implications

This is strictly a commentary.

Practical implications

Availability of technology.

Social implications

Both VR and generative AI will impact service delivery in a meaningful way.

Originality/value

The paper advocates for incorporating these technologies into SF-DDARIN's approach, emphasising their potential to revolutionise evidence-based interventions in developmental disabilities.

Purpose

This paper aims to serve as a commentary on the paper titled “Implementation of an Adapted Handwriting Without Tears® Programme for Children with Developmental Disabilities in a Special Education Setting.”

Design/methodology/approach

It provides an overview of educational strategies that can be used in school settings to support professionals in acquiring skills relevant to their practice and promoting the acquisition of new abilities for their students.

Findings

It explores three critical aspects of education: measuring academic progress, using evidence-based methods and enhancing educator training.

Originality/value

This work represents the personal perspective of a professional working in the service delivery field for children with developmental disabilities in schools and rehabilitative centres.

Purpose

Evidence of overprescribing of psychotropic medicines to manage challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disabilities has led to national programmes within the UK to promote deprescribing, such as stopping the overprescribing of medication in people (with learning disabilities, autism or both). To successfully implement deprescribing initiatives, we need to understand how to engage stakeholders in the process.

Design/methodology/approach

In a published systematic review, we reported evidence about the process of deprescribing psychotropic medicines for people of all ages with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. As a part of the original review, we searched for evidence about stakeholders’ experiences of the psychotropic deprescribing process, which was synthesised and reported within the current study.

Findings

Six studies were identified. Involving carers and people with intellectual disabilities, providing ongoing support and improving access to non-pharmacological interventions, including positive behaviour support, may contribute to successful outcomes, including reducing or stopping psychotropic medicines and improving quality of life. Implementing psychotropic deprescribing requires a multidisciplinary collaborative care approach and education for stakeholders.

Originality/value

There have been no previous reviews of stakeholder experiences of deprescribing psychotropic medications for people with intellectual disabilities and challenging behaviour. The existing literature is scant, and further research is needed.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to place on record the impact made on government policy and research by Autism Cymru, a small charity that existed in Wales between 2001 and 2014. The success of Autism Cymru resulted directly from philanthropic funding, applied with strategic vision and genuine ambition.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective, chronological viewpoint highlighting the creative process, drawing upon records held by the charity.

Findings

Autism Cymru initiated the concept and played a crucial role in steering the development of government policy for autism in Wales between 2001 and 2011. The charity also drove forward the initiative, which led to the establishment of the Wales Autism Research Centre at Cardiff University in 2010. This paper demonstrates that with astute philanthropic support, small learning disability/autism charities can elicit structural and sustainable change at the national level, leading to wide-ranging benefits for the communities they represent.

Originality/value

The strategic approach taken over 20 years ago in Wales by Autism Cymru, which led to the Welsh Government’s ASD Strategic Action Plan for Wales (Welsh Government, 2011), set in place a national policy model, which was then followed by The Scottish Strategy for Autism and the Northern Ireland Autism Strategy (Department of Health, 2013>; Scottish Government, 2011). The insightful and tenacious method used by Autism Cymru remains relevant today, demonstrating that any small charity supported by shrewd philanthropic funding can punch well above its weight by taking a planned, ambitious and strategic approach to policy, research and practice.

Purpose

This paper is a commentary that aims to address themes arising from the article by Morgan titled “Wales and Autism: The Impact of Philanthropy Matched with Ambition”.

Design/methodology/approach

This opinion piece considers the broader impact of stakeholder engagement in the field of autism, including how the dissemination of evidence-based support could be made more accessible for autistic people, their families and carers and philanthropists.

Findings

This paper highlights the link between stakeholder engagement and meaningful change in policy and practice in the field of autism. It highlights the need for philanthropists to invest in evidence-based support but highlights the difficulty in identifying and accessing such support. This piece supports the use of evidence and gap maps (EGMs) to increase the accessibility of autism research and evidence.

Originality/value

While stakeholder engagement is encouragingly rising in this field, most of the evidence is held in academic journals, which are behind paywalls and, therefore, inaccessible to many autistic people, their families, carers and associated professionals. Displaying evidence using EGMs provides an accessible way for autistic people and those who support them to identify possible avenues of support quickly and allows philanthropists to direct research funding to areas of high priority.