Autism Evidence-based Practice Information
Project ACCESS is committed to inculcating best practices through providing professional development that is based on evidence-based interventions. If you are interested in learning more about treatments and interventions that are based on scientific research, you are invited to investigate material provided in the resources listed here. If you have questions or comments, please contact us at 1-866-481-3841 or ProjectACCESS@missouristate.edu
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What Are Evidence-Based Practices?
An evidence-based practice is an instructional/intervention procedure or set of procedures for which researchers have provided an acceptable level of research that shows the practice produces positive outcomes for children, youth, and/or adults with ASD. (definition from the NPDC on ASD)
Research and EBPs
The Missouri Department of Mental Health, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Thompson Center, and Project ACCESS collaborated on the creation of a Missouri-based list that synthesized prominent research lists into a Missouri guide to the EBPs, and documented this work in the Missouri Autism Guideline Initiative (MAGI) project. For more information about free materials you can download from the MAGI website, please visit our page devoted to sharing this MAGI information. The resulting list of EBPs from the MAGI is recapitulated below, with links to explanations and resources.
The National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAEP) recently released their new report identifying effective EBPs. The new report reviews literature published from 1990-2017 and identifies 28 EBPs and 10 manualized interventions that also met criteria. You can review the updated list of EBPs and research article.
Project ACCESS believes that high quality teaching involves the use of these scientifically validated EBPs as a foundation of programming for students.
How one goes about selecting an appropriate EBP as an intervention for someone on the autism spectrum is detailed on this page: Selecting an EBP. You might find it helpful to watch the video to learn about how EBPs are selected before continuing to read more about each EBP.
View the Matrix of Evidence Based Practices, Outcomes, and Age Categories from the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence & Practice.
Below is a list of short video explanations of each of the autism evidence-based interventions.
Antecedent-Based Interventions Parent-Implemented Interventions Augmentative and Alternative Communication Peer-Based Instruction and Intervention Behavioral Momentum Intervention Prompting Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Reinforcement Differential Reinforcement Response Interruption and Redirection Direct Instruction Self-Management Discrete Trial Training Ayres Sensory Integration® Exercise and Movement Social Narratives Extinction Social Skills Training Functional Behavioral Assessment Task Analysis Functional Communication Training Technology-Aided Instruction and Intervention Modeling Time Delay Music-Mediated Intervention Video Modeling Naturalistic Intervention Visual Supports -
Each of the hyperlinks below go to the National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on Autism at University of North Carolina. Each link opens a webpage that includes the evidence base for the intervention. The associated "brief" includes an implementation checklist for using the EBP with fidelity.
Download the Brief Packet for Toddlers from AFIRM. Each link will open a new web browser window.
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The Missouri Autism Guidelines Initiative (MAGI) has devoted considerable effort to
creating an overview of evidence based interventions for individuals with autism spectrum
disorders based on six recent nationally recognized systematic research reviews. The
resulting guidelines have identified 36 "Effective ASD Behavioral Interventions" that
are evidence based. You can find out more about the MAGI by visiting the Missouri Department of Mental Health MAGI website. A video overview of the Guidelines that includes comments from Missouri clinicians directly involved in this consensus
publication is now available on YouTube.MAGI print materials can be downloaded free of charge. Click the following links to download documents in PDF format:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders: Guide to Evidence-based Interventions
- The concise Summary for Autism Spectrum Disorders: Guide to Evidence-based Interventions is also available for download
In addition to the Guide to Evidence-based Interventions, these additional documents are available for download:
- The companion to the Guide, Autism Spectrum Disorders: Missouri Best Practice Guidelines for Screening, Diagnosis, and Assessment.
These three overviews accompany the companion guide:
Links to download all of the above are available at the following link: MAGI
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The Thompson Center for Autism & Neurodevelopment is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to clinical service, research, and training to improve the lives of individuals with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. In one central location, this unique collaboration of schools and colleges at the University of Missouri brings together experts from many disciplines to continuously build on the services we offer.
The mission of the Thompson Center is to support individuals & families impacted by autism and other neurodevelopmental diagnoses through world class programs that integrate research, clinical service delivery, education, and public policy.
Free to take online through the Thompson Center, the Autism Spectrum Disorders: Evidence-Based Practice and Interventions training was developed by the Mid-Missouri Rapid Response Initiative, which is funded by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities. This online module was created from the training through a partnership with the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri Extension, and the Division of Developmental Disabilities, Office of Autism Services.
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Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities is a division of Kansas University's Juniper Gardens Children's Project
Of particular interest related to EBPs is the OASIS project. Online and Applied System of Intervention Skills (OASIS website) is a web-based training program designed to improve parents' use of evidence-based practices with their young children with autism spectrum disorder. The training includes online tutorials and assessments, as well as live coaching using telehealth technology for parents to practice and improve their use of skills with their child at home. In this project, we are developing protocols and tools to support scale up of OASIS through private and state agencies that provide intervention services to families. This is achieved by giving these agencies the capacity to train their own interventionists to deliver OASIS to their families.
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The National Professional Development Center has developed online modules for each of the evidence-based practices identified in their review of ASD interventions. These modules are available on the Autism Focused intervention resources & Modules (AFIRM) website.
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The Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) has also developed Autism Internet Modules (AIM) which features content from experts on ASD across the nation on topics including assessment and identification, characteristics, evidence-based practices and interventions, transition to adulthood, and employment. The AIM platform was designed and built by OCALI staff with components consistent with research on how adults learn. Information is presented at a universal reading level with activities providing support to those with introductory or advanced knowledge on ASD.
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The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) is an investment of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) within the U.S. Department of Education that was established in 2002. The work of the WWC is managed by a team of staff at IES and conducted under a set of contracts held by leading firms with expertise in education, research methodology, and the dissemination of education research, including Instructional Research Group and Mathematica. Each WWC contract focuses on furthering the goals of the WWC. Visit the “What We Do” of the WWC website to learn more about the type of work happening at the WWC.
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The IRIS Center has resources, professional development options, and reports related to autism. Find all of this on the The IRIS Center at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville
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Located in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C., region, Kennedy Krieger Institute is internationally recognized for improving the lives of tens of thousands of children, adolescents and adults with neurological, rehabilitative or developmental needs through inpatient and day hospital programs, outpatient clinics, home and community services, education, and research. Check out the Kennedy Krieger special education professional development program.