Research Study Published In Peer-Reviewed Journal: Els for Autism Spring into Action Together (SIAT) Program Empowers Caregivers with Skills and Knowledge to Improve Social Communication in Toddlers and Young Children with Autism

Jupiter, FL  (July 1, 2022) Spring into Action Together (SIAT) is an Els for Autism® caregiver-implemented, early education program for children who are 18 months to 3 years of age. A pilot study was conducted to examine outcomes for toddlers and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or autism symptomatology following the SIAT 4-week caregiver coaching program implemented by trained therapists in collaboration with the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai. The results, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (JADD),conclude that a pilot study of SIAT improved social communication and language skills.

The SIAT program is designed to support communication, social engagement, and play skills by teaching caregivers skills that can be implemented in the child’s natural environment. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of the SIAT intervention, which ultimately may complement existing treatments by empowering parents with therapeutic skills to support their young children’s development.

Through this study, researchers identified significant benefits of caregiver-directed coaching, which offers increased intervention accessibility due to decreased time demands and strategies that are intended to be generalized to every day environments. The study also found improvement in caregiver knowledge and parental engagement with their child. This study was funded by The Seaver Els Institute with support from the Els for Autism Foundation and the Beatrice & Samuel A. Seaver Foundation.

Els for Autism® has provided programs and services to individuals with ASD across the lifespan, with a focus on early intervention and education, adult services, and recreation. Interventions in these areas are continuously studied to determine efficacy, and the core of these findings are shared worldwide to the individual with ASD, their family, support teams, and other professionals.