A home-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: Outcomes for Saudi Arabian families

Hissah Alanazi
Curtin University, Australia
Shahad Alsharif
Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia
Cindy Ann Smith
Curtin University, Australia

Parents of children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often struggle to find appropriate educational and behavioural resources to support their children. These resources are particularly lacking in countries with fewer resources overall. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate training program for parents, specifically mothers, of children diagnosed with ASD in Saudi Arabia. The participants included Saudi parents (n=5) and their children (n=5), all 4 to 8 years of age. The single subject study utilised a multiple probe across participants design. The researcher and each parent collaboratively developed a home based intervention (HBI) to teach a specifically targeted skill for their child. Observational data was collected to measure the accuracy and reliability of the parents' ability to deliver instruction to their children. The primary dependent variable was the parents' fidelity in treatment implementation and the secondary dependent variable was the children's acquisition of targeted skills. Results indicate a high level of fidelity of intervention (parents) with a high rate of acquisition (children) of the targeted skills. Implications of the study including limitations and future research are discussed.
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Authors: Ms Hissah Alanazi is a PhD candidate at Curtin University in Perth, Australia and serves as a faculty member at Jazan University, Saudi Arabia. Ms Alanazi holds a Masters degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Ms Alanazai provides services to support children with autism and their families. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3004-3154 Email: hissah.alanazi@postgrad.curtin.edu.au Dr Shahad S. Alsharif is an Assistant Professor at Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst at the Doctoral level, a Licensed New York State Behavior Analyst and consults with educational organisations worldwide to assist in the establishment of schools and centres to provide research based services for children with autism. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2870-3168 Email: shahad.alghalib@gmail.com Dr Cindy Ann Smith is a Lecturer in the School of Education, Curtin University, Australia and has extensive experience as a special education teacher, particularly with children with severe behaviours, and behavioural specialist, supporting children and their families in the USA, Saudi Arabia and Australia. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3109-6864 Email: cindy.smith1@curtin.edu.au Please cite as: Alanazi, H., Alsharif, S. & Smith, C. A. (2022). A home-based intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: Outcomes for Saudi Arabian families. Issues in Educational Research, 32(3), 849-870. http://www.iier.org.au/iier32/alanazi.pdf