Helping young autistic children with the Early Start Denver Model in community settings
Examining the Effectiveness of the Early Start Denver Model in Community Programs serving Young Autistic Children
This project looks at how well a special teaching approach called the Early Start Denver Model works for young autistic children in everyday community programs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137639 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We want to understand if the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a naturalistic approach, helps young autistic children learn and grow in community settings. This model combines strategies from behavior therapy and developmental science, focusing on engaging children's social motivation to improve their communication and language skills. We aim to see if this approach, which has shown promise in controlled settings, can be successfully used in regular community programs where many children receive support. This information will help ensure that effective, developmentally appropriate care is available and recognized by those who fund these services.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Young autistic children, typically aged 0-11 years, who are currently receiving or could receive services in community-based programs, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who are older than young childhood or who are not seeking services through community-based programs may not directly benefit from this particular implementation study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more widespread use of a proven, child-friendly therapy for young autistic children in community programs, improving their social communication and language development.
How similar studies have performed: The Early Start Denver Model has shown success in improving outcomes for young autistic children in multiple controlled efficacy studies, but its effectiveness in real-world community settings needs further confirmation.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stahmer, Aubyn C. — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Stahmer, Aubyn C.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.