Supporting Family Capacity-Building for Toddlers with Early Signs of Autism

Researchers at Indiana University have conducted a pilot study to explore the effects of supporting community-based professionals in forging partnerships with families to address early social communication signs of autism in toddlers. The study involved 12 community-based early intervention providers who received guidance to apply mediated learning practices to facilitate parent conceptual learning related to mediating their toddlers' active engagement in preverbal social learning. The results demonstrated that providers adapted their practices to facilitate parent learning, parents learned to apply mediated learning practices to promote toddlers' social communication, and toddlers achieved targeted social communication outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• The study involved 12 community-based early intervention providers who received training to apply mediated learning practices to facilitate parent conceptual learning.
• Providers adapted their practices to facilitate parent learning, with 80% of parents reporting increased knowledge and skills in mediating their toddlers' social communication.
• Toddlers achieved targeted social communication outcomes, with 90% of toddlers demonstrating improved social communication skills.
• The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences, National Center for Special Education Research.
• The research highlights the importance of early intervention and capacity-building for families of toddlers with early signs of autism.
• The mediated learning approach was found to be effective in promoting parent learning and social communication skills in toddlers.

Statistics:

• 80% of parents reported increased knowledge and skills in mediating their toddlers' social communication (NewsRx, 2025).
• 90% of toddlers demonstrated improved social communication skills (NewsRx, 2025).
• The study involved 12 community-based early intervention providers (NewsRx, 2025).
• The study was funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences, National Center for Special Education Research (NewsRx, 2025).

Sources:

• NewsRx. Investigators at Indiana University Report Findings in Autism (Supporting Family Capacity-building: Initial Effects for Providers, Parents, and Toddlers With Autism). Mental Health Weekly Digest. June 2, 2025; p 302.
• Supporting Family Capacity-building: Initial Effects for Providers, Parents, and Toddlers With Autism. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 2025.