Outcomes of Home-Support Consultation on the Maintenance of Bicycle-Riding Skills for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

ABSTRACT

Bicycle riding is a functional motor skill that increases physical activity opportunities, social interaction, and independence. However, bicycle riding is difficult for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to learn. This study examined the effectiveness of home-support consultation (HSC) on increasing the maintenance of independent bicycle riding following initial skill acquisition. Fifty-one youth with a confirmed ASD diagnosis learned to ride a two-wheeled bicycle during a training camp. Twenty-nine riders enrolled in a HSC intervention to promote distributed practice of the learned skill. The control cohort (N = 22) was exempt from the HSC intervention. One year following initial skill acquisition, 62.07% of the HSC cohort compared to 36.36% of the control cohort still reportedly displayed the skill. Within the HSC cohort, riders who reported at least 8 weeks of practice following acquisition on average maintained the skill. Implications of home consultation are discussed.

Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133G090006), awarded to Dale A. Ulrich.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133G090006), awarded to Dale A. Ulrich.

Notes on contributors

Jennifer L. Reynolds

Jennifer L. Reynolds, PhD, is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo in the NASP approved School Psychology graduate training program. She completed her doctorate in school psychology at Central Michigan University. Her research has focused on improving academic and behavior outcomes for children.

E. Andrew Pitchford

E. Andrew Pitchford is a doctoral candidate in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. He is a Certified Adapted Physical Educator (CAPE). His research focus includes the causes and consequences of obesity in youth with developmental disabilities, and designing and testing interventions to reduce health disparities through maximizing physical activity and other health behaviors.

Janet L. Hauck

Janet L. Hauck is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and director of the Physical Activity for Youth with Disabilities (PLAY’d) Laboratory at Michigan State University. She is interested in physical activity and gross motor delay in infants and children with disabilities. Her current research examines the health and motoric outcomes of meaningful physical activity interventions.

Leah R. Ketcheson

Leah R. Ketcheson, PhD, is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan in the School of Kinesiology. She completed her PhD at the University of Michigan where her research focused on the motor and physical outcomes following an early and intensive motor skill intervention for young children with Autism. The results reported from the bicycle intervention were part of a large collaborative research study that Dr. Ketcheson worked on as a doctoral student.

Dale A. Ulrich

Dale A. Ulrich is professor and chair of the Movement Sciences Program in the School of Kinesiology at the University of Michigan. He also directs the Center on Physical Activity and Health in Pediatric Disabilities.

Note: The authors report that to the best of their knowledge neither they nor their affiliated institutions have financial or personal relationships or affiliations that could influence or bias the opinions, decisions, or work presented in this manuscript.