Recruiting

SDARI

Sponsor:

Drexel University

Code:

NCT07222982

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 30

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

SDARI-YA

AYA

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is a clinical trial that will test whether a group program called SDARI (Socio-dramatic Affective Relational Intervention) can help autistic young adults between the ages of 18 and 30 feel more connected to others and improve their social relationships.

The study will try to answer:

Can SDARI be used successfully with autistic adults? Does SDARI help people feel more connected, supported, and mentally well?

There are two groups in the study. One group will participate in the SDARI program, and the other group will do different structured activities that don't focus on social connection. Researchers will compare the two groups to see if SDARI leads to better outcomes.

Participants will:

Complete screening to confirm eligibility (including autism traits and IQ) Attend weekly in-person group sessions for 10 weeks Take part in games and activities designed to support connection and collaboration Complete surveys and interviews before, during, and after the program Have the option to choose someone close to them (like a friend or family member) to fill out surveys about their experiences

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study ID

NCT07222982

Start date

Jan 15, 2026

Status verified date

Oct, 2025

Completion date

Feb, 2031

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Feb, 2030

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 30

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Have graduated from high school (or an equivalent program) and are between the ages of 18-30 years old
  • Demonstrate the ability to complete consent and all study measures and procedures in English
  • Score ≥ 65 on the RAADS
  • Score ≥ 70 on the KBIT-2R
  • Score ≥ 6 on the ADOS-2 Module 4
  • Are physically able to complete study activities (e.g., no significant physical impairment or mental condition restricting participation in study activities).
  • Are physically able to travel to the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA to attend all weekly study sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Are still enrolled in high school (or an equivalent program) or are not between the ages of 18-30 years old
  • Are unable to complete study measures and/or procedures in English
  • Are unable to complete consent procedures
  • Score ≤ 65 on the RAADS
  • Score ≤ 70 on the KBIT-2R
  • Score ≤ 6 on the ADOS-2
  • Cannot physically complete study activities
  • Cannot physically travel to the AJ Drexel Autism Institute at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA to attend study sessions
  • Have a severe medical or psychiatric condition preventing them from safely completing study activities

Study Design

Enrollment

54 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: SDARI-YA

follow SDARI Protocol

active comparator: AYA

follow AYA Protocol

Interventions

SDARI-YA

SDARI is a group-based, performance-based intervention designed to provide participants with opportunities to engage in and experience targeted interpersonal interactions, with minimal didactic instruction or instrumental reinforcement. The intervention consists of three core components:

SDARI utilizes affectively motivating acting games that are adapted for the developmental stage and characteristics of the target population.

Clinicians promote strong relationships among participants and between participants and clinicians by fostering a supportive and enjoyable environment, facilitating both structured and unstructured interactions, encouraging collaborative problem-solving, and reinforcing positive peer engagement.

SDARI incorporates motivating activities-such as noncompetitive physical games, shared interests, and goal-oriented tasks-to enhance interpersonal motivation and engagement.

AYA

This group provides concrete presentation of thematic content and connects those themes to specific semi-structured, naturalistic games and activities. Themes are addressed and targeted according to the developmental needs of individual group members.

Core Program Principles include:

Use of recreational, motivational activities adapted for the target age range and population Positive reinforcement of interpersonal engagement through structured activities Integration of strong, age-appropriate motivators

The AYA program uniquely combines these elements to facilitate both development and enjoyment. Group members engage in increasingly complex interpersonal interactions within the group setting and gain motivation to generalize these experiences across other environments, including home and educational contexts.

Primary outcome measure

  • Social Responsiveness [ Time Frame: Day 1 (Baseline) Week 10 (Post-intervention) Week 22 (3-Month Follow-up) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

China Parenteau, B.A.

5105085858china.parenteau@gmail.com

Kyleigh Hricak, B.A.

kh3434@drexel.edu

Locations

Drexel University

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104

More Information

Sponsor

Drexel University

Last update posted

Oct 31, 2025

Last verified

Oct, 2025

Keywords

  • autism
  • intervention
  • social performance

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Drexel University on 2025-10-31.