12th Biennial National Conference Choices that matter: ECI in a new era … The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) in a Universal Early Learning Setting A pilot randomised control trial Jessica Feary and Shannon Upson 7-9 September, 2016 Melbourne, Australia

Introductions ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Outline Background Methods Outcomes Discussion Future Directions . ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Background ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre (Vic ASELCC) Federal Government Initiative established in 2010 Primary objectives of ASELCC; Community Based Childcare Centre (long day care setting) Early Intervention Centre (group implementation of ESDM) Research Centre (partnership with OTARC and MIND Institute) ESDM Training Centre and Group ESDM Flagship site • ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) Intervention designed for children under 5 years with ASD Manualised, comprehensive, evidence-based approach Play-based, relationship-based Developmental Curriculum + teaching practices Implemented by trained ESDM therapists and parents Embedded in every day routines within child’s natural environments Transdisciplinary team   ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

End of 2014: What did we know? What didn’t we know? ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Group ESDM in action….. ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Pilot Randomised Control Trial Aim: Compare learning outcomes of children receiving ESDM in universal early learning setting versus children receiving ESDM in segregated setting Questions we hoped to answer: Is it feasible to deliver ESDM in a universal early learning setting? Can we train early childhood educators to deliver ESDM in a universal early learning setting? Will the children’s outcomes be as good, better or worse in the universal early learning setting than in the segregated setting?   ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Methods ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Participants ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Measures ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Formal ESDM Certification Process Procedures Training ESDM Introductory Workshop 1 Day Paraprofessional Standard +1 Day Paraprofessional Plus +2 Days (Consecutive) Professional ESDM Advanced Workshop 3 Days Playroom coaching/ Fidelity Checks Playroom coaching / Formal ESDM Certification Process ESDM Paraprofessionals are able to deliver the model only with the support / supervision of ESDM certified therapists / trainers ESDM certified professionals are able to implement all aspects of the model and act as program key workers Early Childhood Certificate III   Specialist Professionals Inc. Allied Health & Teachers Early Childhood Diploma ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Procedures Learning Environments ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Procedures Delivery of intervention Area Segregated Universal Environmental:   Childcare Long Day Care setting  Adult to child ratio 1.4 Children with ASD Typically developing children X Team: Educators ESDM certified therapists Allied Health Transdisciplinary team approach ESDM Training provided  (ongoing) Educational framework: Manualised intervention treatment (ESDM) Individual learning programs: ESDM curriculum checklist  every 12 weeks Number of ESDM goals 16 each goal cycle Data collection on ESDM goals  Daily Staff fidelity implementation ESDM Classroom Measure Individual Fidelity checks  (At least 2 per year - per person) ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Outcomes ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Outcomes 1. Is it feasible to deliver ESDM in a universal early learning setting? YES! ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Outcomes 2. Can we train early childhood educators to deliver ESDM in a universal early learning setting? YES! ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Outcomes 3. Will the children’s outcomes be as good, better or worse in the universal early learning setting than in the segregated setting? ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Children’s Gains Over Time- Whole Sample (N=16) ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Children’s Gains Over Time- By setting (N=8 per group) Solid lines = Universal setting Dashed lines = Segregated setting

Summary It is feasible to do ESDM in a universal early learning setting Educators were able to learn to implement ESDM within their universal early learning settings Children in universal early learning setting made similar gains to children in segregated setting ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Future directions Replication study – larger sample Implement in an external site What effect does this have on typically developing children? Implications for rural & remote populations ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

Thank-you ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

References Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning & Centre http://www.latrobe.edu.au/child/services/aselcc UC Davis, MIND Institute http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/research/esdm/ ECIA National Guidelines for Best Practice https://www.ecia.org.au/resources/best-practice-guidelines United Nations, Convention on the Rights of the Child, 20 November 1989, http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b38f0.html ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …