Mind the gap: an intervention to support caregivers with a new autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is feasible and acceptable
Published in Pilot and feasibility Studies, 2020
Recommended citation: Iadarola, S., Pellecchia, M., Stahmer, A. et al. Mind the gap: an intervention to support caregivers with a new autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is feasible and acceptable. Pilot Feasibility Stud 6, 124 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-020-00662-6 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40814-020-00662-6
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) benefit when their caregivers can effectively advocate for appropriate services. Barriers to caregiver engagement such as provider mistrust, cultural differences, stigma, and lack of knowledge can interfere with timely service access. We describe Mind the Gap (MTG), an intervention that provides education about ASD, service navigation, and other topics relevant to families whose children have a new ASD diagnosis. MTG was developed via community partnerships and is explicitly structured to reduce engagement barriers (e.g., through peer matching, meeting flexibility, culturally-informed practices). We also present on the results of a pilot of MTG, conducted in preparation for a randomized controlled trial.
Recommended citation: Iadarola, S., Pellecchia, M., Stahmer, A. et al. Mind the gap: an intervention to support caregivers with a new autism spectrum disorder diagnosis is feasible and acceptable. Pilot Feasibility Stud 6, 124 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-020-00662-6