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Parents’ Experiences of Home-Based Applied Behavior Analysis Programs for Young Children with Autism

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Abstract

Although much research has documented the benefits to children with autism of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), little has focused on the impact of EIBI on families. Using a semi-structured format, we interviewed 53 parents whose children had received 2 years of EIBI to obtain detailed first person accounts of the perceived benefits and pitfalls of running a home program, and the impact of EIBI on family life and support systems. In general, parents were positive about EIBI, its benefits for them, their child, and the broader family. Interviews also, however, revealed some of the more challenging aspects of managing home-based EIBI. The implications of these findings for more supportive interventions for families on home programs are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

Preparation of this article was supported by a grant from the Esmée Fairburn Foundation (more details available at http://www.esmeefairburn.org.uk). The opinions presented here are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the foundation. The authors gratefully acknowledge the parents that agreed to be interviewed and also express their appreciation to Catherine Carr, who completed the inter-rater reliability coding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, Adeilad Brigantia, Bangor University, Gwynedd, LL57 2AS, UK

    Corinna F. Grindle & Richard P. Hastings

  2. School of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

    Hanna Kovshoff & Bob Remington

Authors
  1. Corinna F. Grindle
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  2. Hanna Kovshoff
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  3. Richard P. Hastings
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  4. Bob Remington
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Correspondence to Corinna F. Grindle.

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Grindle, C.F., Kovshoff, H., Hastings, R.P. et al. Parents’ Experiences of Home-Based Applied Behavior Analysis Programs for Young Children with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 42–56 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0597-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0597-z

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