Project Description

Challenge

There are few interventions targeted at children three years of age and under who have early signs of autism or a confirmed diagnosis, despite evidence that early intervention is important.

Project Summary

Social ABC’s is an intervention co-developed by Dr. Jessica Brian (Holland Bloorview, Toronto), together with Dr. Susan Bryson from Halifax. The intervention is mediated by caregivers of toddlers with autism or related social-communication challenges. Parents are guided by a trained parent coach, with the focus on parents building positive connections with their child and helping them develop communication skills through everyday activities. The idea is that toddlers can make gains that lead to improved developmental outcomes, which means they might require fewer intensive supports in the future. This model also aims to empower parents by helping them develop strategies that support their child’s development.

Looking Towards Cycle III

The program is now looking to expand beyond a well-controlled research context because of high demand. As a result, the team is working to develop a training hub so that service providers and agencies across the country can be adequately trained on how to administer the intervention themselves. The hub will allow for training in-person as well as online so that people in remote regions can also access it. The team has already established partnerships for broader implementation across Ontario, as well as in Alberta and Nova Scotia. They have also received interest from groups in India and Israel. Over the next three years, it is expected that Social ABC’s will reach approximately 100 families each year in Canada and 30 each year internationally.

Funding

Contributions Received to Date:
Kids Brain Health Network – $597,580.00
Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital – $157,508.00
Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel – $40,000.00
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital – $916,000.00

Team

Principal Investigator

Jessica Brian, University of Toronto and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital

Co-Investigators

Susan Bryson, Dalhousie University 
Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, University of Alberta and Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital
Isabel Smith, Dalhousie University

Collaborators and partners

Adventure Place (Toronto)
Caroline Roncadin, Irene Drmic, and Ron Joyce Children’s Centre
Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa)
Glenrose Rehabilitation Speech-Language services (Edmonton)
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Martha Pilkington, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
McMaster Children’s Hospital


Additional funding partners

Ministry of Children and Youth Services
The Alva Foundation
CIBC