Parents of children diagnosed with autism face a bewildering range of 'treatments' for autism. International reviews, however, consistently point to the importance of using evidence-based practice to educate parents and children. A science of behaviour (Applied Behaviour Analysis) underpins the most effective treatments but there is a severe shortage of training courses across Europe to prepare professionals to meet the needs of parents and children (see BACB). To address this concern, and the resulting myths about Applied Behaviour Analysis that have sprung up, Leonardo, part of the European Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme is supporting an innovative multimedia programme first developed in N. Ireland by local charity Parents' Education as Autism Therapists (PEAT) and Behaviour Analysts from the University of Ulster. Called Simple Steps, this multimedia program uses video material in the form of parental testimonies, animations, demonstrations, and textural material to teach the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis. The goal is to demonstrate how the practice of science impacts on how one maximises the learning opportunities for children with autism. If we can help parents become proficient in delivering home programs for their children, it will make it easier to coordinate these learning opportunities for the child with those provided within a school. Of course, will parents still need supervised by a professional trained in Applied Behaviour Analysis to international standards.
The project funded by Leonardo is called STAMPPP and the goal of the previous funding was to update the original Simple Steps and provide translations in German, Norwegian, and Spanish; 1000 free copies were distributed in each partner country. The original project was recognised as an example of excellence by the European Commission and was included as a case study highlighting best practice in Inclusion.
Original STAMPPP partners
UK
Dr. Mickey Keenan BCBA-D, University of Ulster (lead): Contact - [email protected]
Dr. Stephen Gallagher BCBA-D, University of Ulster,
Prof. K. Dillenburger BCBA-D, Queen’s University, Belfast
Dr. Tony Byrne, PEAT
Nichola Booth BCBA, PEAT
Dr. Neil Martin BCBA-D, Antam, and Applied Representative of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis
Germany
Prof Dr Hanns Rüdiger Röttgers
Prof Dr Bernhard Brugger
University of Applied Sciences, Münster
Norway
Dr. Børge Strømgren, Akershus University College
Spain
Dr. Luis Antonio Pérez González, University of Oviedo
Prof. Dr. Hanns Rüdiger Röttgers said of Simple Steps:
"I have given numerous conference presentations outlining the advantages of using material designed by leaders in the field to teach ABA. My most recent presentations were to the 2011 conference of the German scientific society for autism spectrum disorders (WTAS) in Berlin and to the 2011 conference of the European Psychiatric Association in Vienna. Their feedback was entirely positive and generated a lot of enthusiasm for the potential of this multimedia pack as a stopgap for disseminating accurate information about ABA."
STAMPPP II
Leonardo has funded a new round of updates and translations to Simple Steps. As well as updating some sections with new animations, we will be making this resource available online to partner countries. Our partners for this round of funding include:
UK
Dr. Mickey Keenan BCBA-D, University of Ulster (lead): Contact - [email protected]
Dr. Stephen Gallagher BCBA-D, University of Ulster,
Prof. K. Dillenburger BCBA-D, Queen’s University, Belfast
Dr. Tony Byrne, PEAT
Nichola Booth BCBA, PEAT
Dr. Neil Martin BCBA-D, Antam, and Applied Representative of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis
Italy
Prof. Paolo Moderato, Institute G.P. Fabris, IULM University, Milan
Sweden
Dr. Lise Roll-Pettersson BCBA-D, Stockholm University
Netherlands
Dr. Jacqueline Schenk, Erasmus University Rotterdam,
Iceland
Sigridur Jonsdottir, The State Diagnostic and Counselling Centre, Iceland
The project funded by Leonardo is called STAMPPP and the goal of the previous funding was to update the original Simple Steps and provide translations in German, Norwegian, and Spanish; 1000 free copies were distributed in each partner country. The original project was recognised as an example of excellence by the European Commission and was included as a case study highlighting best practice in Inclusion.
Original STAMPPP partners
UK
Dr. Mickey Keenan BCBA-D, University of Ulster (lead): Contact - [email protected]
Dr. Stephen Gallagher BCBA-D, University of Ulster,
Prof. K. Dillenburger BCBA-D, Queen’s University, Belfast
Dr. Tony Byrne, PEAT
Nichola Booth BCBA, PEAT
Dr. Neil Martin BCBA-D, Antam, and Applied Representative of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis
Germany
Prof Dr Hanns Rüdiger Röttgers
Prof Dr Bernhard Brugger
University of Applied Sciences, Münster
Norway
Dr. Børge Strømgren, Akershus University College
Spain
Dr. Luis Antonio Pérez González, University of Oviedo
Prof. Dr. Hanns Rüdiger Röttgers said of Simple Steps:
"I have given numerous conference presentations outlining the advantages of using material designed by leaders in the field to teach ABA. My most recent presentations were to the 2011 conference of the German scientific society for autism spectrum disorders (WTAS) in Berlin and to the 2011 conference of the European Psychiatric Association in Vienna. Their feedback was entirely positive and generated a lot of enthusiasm for the potential of this multimedia pack as a stopgap for disseminating accurate information about ABA."
STAMPPP II
Leonardo has funded a new round of updates and translations to Simple Steps. As well as updating some sections with new animations, we will be making this resource available online to partner countries. Our partners for this round of funding include:
UK
Dr. Mickey Keenan BCBA-D, University of Ulster (lead): Contact - [email protected]
Dr. Stephen Gallagher BCBA-D, University of Ulster,
Prof. K. Dillenburger BCBA-D, Queen’s University, Belfast
Dr. Tony Byrne, PEAT
Nichola Booth BCBA, PEAT
Dr. Neil Martin BCBA-D, Antam, and Applied Representative of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis
Italy
Prof. Paolo Moderato, Institute G.P. Fabris, IULM University, Milan
Sweden
Dr. Lise Roll-Pettersson BCBA-D, Stockholm University
Netherlands
Dr. Jacqueline Schenk, Erasmus University Rotterdam,
Iceland
Sigridur Jonsdottir, The State Diagnostic and Counselling Centre, Iceland
Back row, left to right: Prof. K. Dillenburger, Dr. Neil Martin, Sigridur Jonsdottir, Dr. Jacqueline Schenk, Prof. Paolo Moderato, Dr. Lise Roll-Pettersson, Lynsay Mulcahy (PEAT). Front row, left to right: Dr. Stephen Gallagher, Dr. Mickey Keenan, Nichola Booth (PEAT).
STAMPPP II
‘This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.’
This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.’
