The Autism-Competency-Group (AutCom). A promising approach to promote social skills in adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are often associated with intellectual disability (ID). ASD-specific group concepts usually focus on people on a high functioning level. The Autism-Competence-Group (AutCom) combines a psycho-educative approach with music and dance/movement interventions in adults with ASD and ID. AutCom includes 16 structured 90-minute sessions to foster social and emotional competencies. This study investigates the acceptability and effectiveness of AutCom. Practicability and acceptability were measured based on participation frequency and patient satisfaction (CSQ-8). Efficacy was assessed in a pre-post design (N = 12) based on self- and third-party assessment with a control group matched by gender and level of ID. Primary outcome variables were social and emotional competence, and secondary outcomes were challenging behavior and quality of life. A participation rate of 86% indicated practicability; high CSQ-8 scores (M = 30 of max. 32) indicated acceptability. Significant improvement was found in social competence compared to the control group and emotional competence in the pre-post self-assessment on the AutCom questionnaire. No significant improvement was found in challenging behavior and quality of life. AutCom is shown to be a promising and highly accepted group concept in fostering social and emotional skills in adults with ASD and ID.

Keywords:

• autism spectrum disorder
• adults
• intellectual disability
• social skills
• group training
• music therapy
• dance movement therapy

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the participants, their families and their reference persons for supporting the study.

Disclosure statement

None of the authors or other persons involved in this study have any interests that might be interpreted as influencing the research.

Ethical approval

All data were acquired in a routine patient-care setting in accordance with legal requirements of the local hospital law. All procedures were performed in accordance with the Ethical Standards of the Institutional Research Committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments, or with comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

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