Mother-Child Programme Research Project

The Mother-Child Interaction Programme is an ongoing program by Action for Autism that consists of semi-structured, daily interactions between mothers and their children with autism that are conducted within a group setting. The goal of the program is for mothers to develop basic skills that facilitate their ability to relate to their child, anticipate their child's needs, and improve the effectiveness of their interactions to increase socialization and play skills. Initial training and supervision is provided to mothers by staff at Action for Autism, and supervision continues through the duration of the program. A developmental therapist or special educator observes the group at least once a week and a feedback or and discussion session follows.

The programme follows the structure of a school day, beginning with assembly of all children together, followed by instruction in specific academic and self-help activities that are conducted both one-on-one as well as within a group, and ending with free play or a group music time activity.

There has been a positive response to the programme by mothers, and its benefits have been seen in children especially for those children who do not yet have a place at the AFA school, or who continue with home support and/or other education provision. Specifically, mothers appear to gain a considerable level of skill and comfort in their ability to optimally work with their children both on academic and socialization skills, a gain that appears to be translating into an increase in their children's abilities.

This study aims to examine the short-term outcome of the programme as measured by both child and mother skill development. Specifically, child progress will be measured using a baseline, mid-study and post-intervention assessment of children's ability.. Mother progress will be assessed through baseline and post-intervention measures of parent knowledge of autism, perceived sensitivity to their child's needs, stress, and sense of self-efficacy.

It is hypothesized that both child and mother skills will increase through participation in the program, mother stress will decrease, and that gain in child skills will be related to the gain in mother's sensitivity, sense of self-efficacy and inversely related to mother stress. In addition, it will investigate the key strengths and difficulties of the program and will attempt to identify good practice guidelines for mother-child interaction in a semi-structured setting. In addition to facilitating the development of the participants in the program, this research project will allow further development of the Mother-Child Interaction Program for possible replication at other sites.