Teaching children with autism to tie their shoes using video prompt-models and backward chaining

ABSTRACT

Video-Based Interventions (VBIs) are those that make use of pre-recorded video footage to assist in the acquisition of a variety of skills and behaviours. This study examined one type of VBI, video prompting, and its effectiveness when combined with backward chaining. Prior research suggests that both VBIs and backward chaining are effective intervention methods for skill acquisition. Using a single-subject multiple baseline design, this experiment expands the current literature by thoroughlyexamining backward chaining and a VBI for the acquisition of the shoe-tying behavior in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The results obtained from this study support prior research that VBIs are effective and their effectiveness is influenced by a number of factors. We also found that majority of the participants were able to retain their newly acquired behaviors one week after achieving mastery.

KEYWORDS:

• Autism spectrum disorders
• chaining
• functional life skill
• shoe tying
• video-based interventions

Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank the Emerge Center and its staff for their support.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from legal guardians for all individual participants included in the study.

Additional information

Funding

This study was not supported by any funding agency.