Evaluation of a Telehealth Parent-Training Program in Japan: Collaboration with Parents to Teach Novel Mand Skills to Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

This study developed a telehealth parent-training program to teach parents of children with autism spectrum disorder the process of mand-training implementation in Japan, and to further the international dissemination of evidence-based training strategies. Parent-training sessions were based on a behavioral skills training (BST) model, combined with weekly graphic and video feedback. The sessions were conducted by a board-certified behavior analyst-doctoral residing in Japan. Four parents with children with autism spectrum disorder participated in this study. The results preliminarily support the effectiveness and social validity of the program. This study extends previous parent-training research conducted in Japan by comprising all of the following features: (1) online program design; (2) mand training; (3) BST model; (4) session-by-session data on children’s behavioral changes and procedural integrity; (5) within-subject experimental design; and (6) social validity evaluation.