Age: 18+
Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted
Participants are enrolled in pairs consisting of an autistic adult and their learning partner. Autistic adult age requirement is 18-36 years and the learning partner age requirement is >18 years.
Autistic Adult Inclusion Criteria:
Generally healthy;
With a community diagnosis of ASD from a licensed clinician, such as a developmental pediatrician, psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, or a neurologist. Below is a set of valid example criteria these professionals could use, but other instruments, tools or diagnostic techniques could be used:
For example, meeting DSM-5 criteria for ASD based on a DSM-5 ASD symptom checklist (APA 2013); Meeting International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) for ASD (code 6A02)(Kamp-Becker, 2024); or a score in the ASD range on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2 (ADOS-20)(Lord et al., n.d.).
Participants have:
Sufficient linguistic capability and technology fluency and capability to participate in an all-online intervention and associated assessments; Their own computer hardware, software and internet connection to allow access to online training; Availability of a non-ASD parent, guardian or adult with a similarly strong and trusting relationship ("learning partner") who, upon pre-enrollment interview, has sufficient linguistic capability and technology fluency and capability to participate in an all-online intervention and associated assessments and the willingness, time and energy to keep up with the coursework; Absence of a clinical anxiety diagnosis, such as <70 score on the ASEBA ASR Anxiety Problems score (or equivalent) or not having sufficient anxiety to be clinically evaluated; Verbal IQ ≥ 90 from a community test or using the Self-Administered Verbal IQ Test (SA-VIQT)(Logos et al., n.d.; openpsychometrics.org, n.d.), which can be administered entirely online and has convergent validity with Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence - Second Edition (WASI-II)(Wechsler, n.d.); and Ability to provide consent in English as a primary language with an absence of cognitive impairment.
Autistic Adult Exclusion Criteria:
Candidates will be ineligible for the study if they are Participating in other emotional intelligence, emotional communication or behavioral intervention training during the month of this intervention; Unable to devote at least an average of 15-30 minutes per day for 5 days per week, except one day off in the third week, to do the training plus two sets of 60-90 minute online questionnaires; or Unable to comply with study procedures or unwilling to accept the standard Kairon platform terms of use.
Learning Partner Inclusion Criteria:
Selected by an ASD adult enrolled in the study; Generally healthy; Without a diagnosis of ASD Sufficient linguistic capability and technology fluency and capability to participate in an all-online intervention and associated assessments; Their own computer hardware, software and internet connection to allow access to online training; Ability to provide consent in English as a primary language with an absence of cognitive impairment.
Learning Partner Exclusion Criteria:
Candidates will be ineligible for the study if they are Participating in other ASD accommodation training during the month of this intervention; Unable to devote at least an average of 15-30 minutes per day for 5 days per week, except one day off during the third week, to do the training plus two sets of 60-90 minute online questionnaires; or Unable to comply with study procedures or unwilling to accept the standard Kairon platform terms of use.