An initial trial of OPT-In-Early: An online training program for caregivers of autistic children.

Researchers tested an online training program that teaches parents how to help their autistic children with language, social skills, and daily living skills. Parents who used the program for 4 months learned better techniques and used them more with their children compared to parents who didn't get the program. However, the children didn't show improvements in social communication yet, possibly because more time is needed to see changes.

This randomized controlled trial evaluated OPT-In-Early, a comprehensive online training program for caregivers of autistic children. The program teaches evidence-based intervention strategies through text and video demonstrations to improve children's language, social, and adaptive skills while reducing disruptive behaviors. Sixty-three parents from three states participated, with half receiving access to the program. After four months, parents with program access demonstrated significantly improved intervention strategies and increased use of these techniques during child interactions compared to controls.

However, children's social communication skills did not show significant improvements, suggesting longer intervention duration may be necessary for measurable child outcomes.

Online parent training programs show promise for improving caregiver skills and addressing service access barriers. However, longer intervention periods may be required to achieve meaningful improvements in children's social communication outcomes. This approach could help address provider shortages and cost barriers.

Single study with moderate sample size (n=63). Four-month duration may be insufficient to detect child outcomes. No details provided on randomization, blinding procedures, or baseline characteristics. Long-term follow-up data not available.

Early intervention can help children learn language and improve social communication. However, many barriers, including the expense of services and an insufficient number of providers, prohibit families from accessing services when their children are young. We developed a comprehensive online program for caregivers of autistic children. The program, Online Parent Training in Early Behavioral Intervention (OPT-In-Early), uses text and video demonstrations to teach caregivers effective methods for improving their children's language, social, and adaptive skills (e.g. using utensils, toilet training), and reducing their children's disruptive behavior.

Sixty-three parents from three states participated in the study. Half of the parents received access to the OPT-In-Early program. After 4 months, parents who had access to the OPT-In-Early program learned more effective intervention strategies, and started using these strategies during interactions with their children, than parents who did not receive access to the program. Parent participation in OPT-In-Early did not significantly influence children's social communication compared to children whose parents did not have access to OPT-In-Early.

A longer duration of parents using learned intervention skills with their children may be needed for children's social communication skills to improve.