Telehealth InterventionTelehealth Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most frequently occurring childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders affecting 1 in every 54 children. Most children with ASD experience challenges participating in daily activities (e.g.: eating, sleeping, bathing, grooming, playing, etc.) and receive occupational therapy intervention to address these. The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted in-person therapy for many of these children and there is an urgent need for evidence-based, validated telehealth intervention. This project will adapt an evidence-based occupational therapy intervention, termed OT4ASD to a telehealth delivery model. The aims of the project are to: 1) adapt the existing intervention protocol to a telehealth delivery model, 2) train therapists and evaluate the therapist's ability to conduct OT4ASD, 3) determine if OT4ASD delivered via the telehealth is acceptable and feasible to parents and interventionists; and 4) whether children improve in the daily living skills. OT4ASD follows a systematic protocol and uses active, individually-tailored sensory motor activities that are specifically designed to address the child's needs. The investigators believe this will be the first telehealth manualized protocol to address the sensory motor symptoms of ASD and measure outcomes at the daily life activity and participation levels.