Empowering Caregivers to Promote Child Independence

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA · Jul 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is designed to help caregivers of adolescents with profound autism by teaching them how to encourage their children to do simple activities more independently. Since caring for a child with profound autism often requires constant attention, this can leave caregivers little time for their own needs or other family activities. The study will test a special training that uses picture-based activity schedules to help children stay engaged in meaningful tasks on their own, giving caregivers short breaks and improving life for both the child and caregiver.

To join the study, the child must be between 10 and 17 years old, have a diagnosis of severe or profound autism with related intellectual challenges, and be able to complete a few simple daily or leisure activities with some help. Caregivers need to speak English and be able to assist with certain personal care tasks if needed. Participants will either receive the training right away or continue their usual routine during the study, but those who don’t get the training initially will have the chance to receive it afterward. The researchers will look at how well the training works by checking the child’s progress and asking caregivers for their feedback.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Autistic individuals 10 to 17 years of age
• • Severe or profound intellectual disability diagnosis or reportedly in line with diagnostic criteria based on Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, Second Edition ADOS-2
• • Developmental Profile 4 (DP-4) Cognitive/Communication Domain scores below 70 (Delayed)
• • Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3) Communication, Health and Safety, and Leisure Domains adaptive skill scores in the Low to Extremely Low range
• • Can complete between 3-10 simple leisure or daily living skill tasks or activities independently (caregiver may prompt or provide oversight)
• • Caregivers can remain present to assist with toileting if more than one person is needed to assist
• • No medication or stable medication regimen with no planned changes for study duration
• • Stable intervention and/or educational services with no planned changes for study duration
• • English spoken by at least one caregiver
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Known serious medical condition or serious behavioral/psychiatric condition requiring immediate alternative focused intervention