Evaluation of a Brief Teacher Coaching Program for Delivering an Early Intervention Program to Preschoolers With Autism Spectrum Disorder

There is a need for research that evaluates the effectiveness of early intervention when delivered in inclusive preschools. In this study, 3 regular preschool teachers were trained to use the Early Start Denver Model with a child with autism spectrum disorder who attended an inclusive preschool. Each teacher worked with 1 child. Teachers received eleven 60-min coaching sessions based on an adapted version of the Early Start Denver Model's parent coaching program. A multiple baseline across participants design was used to evaluate effectiveness in terms of teachers' use of the early intervention techniques and children's levels of participation, imitation, and communication. Data were collected via weekly 10-min video recordings, with 3 follow-up probes conducted 11 weeks following intervention. Teachers improved in their use of early intervention techniques, and children demonstrated improved levels of active participation, but results for child imitation and communication were mixed. Positive results were generally maintained at follow-up. This study provides preliminary support for the effectiveness and feasibility of using a modified coaching program to train preschool teachers to use early intervention techniques from the Early Start Denver Model.