1. 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, Melbourne, Australia

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

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

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

5. 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 …

6. 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 …

7. 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 …

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

9. 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 …

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

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

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

13. 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 …

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

15. 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 …

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

17. 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 …

18. 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 …

19. 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 …

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

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

22. 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 …

23. 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 …

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

25. References
Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning & Centre
UC Davis, MIND Institute
ECIA National Guidelines for Best Practice
United Nations, Convention on the Rights of the Child, 20 November 1989,
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …