Preparation for Adaptation of Intensive Early Intervention for Toddlers with ASD: Childcare Providers’ Perspectives on Training Approach

Many parents of toddlers and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face challenges in identifying community childcare centers that are adequately prepared to provide developmentally appropriate care for their toddler while also obtaining the recommended amount of early intervention services in their communities. Implementing naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) within childcare centers would increase toddlers’ with ASD access to evidence-based interventions and support their parents. In preparation for an NDBI childcare adaptation, we surveyed 55 childcare providers on their knowledge of ASD, confidence and experiences caring for toddlers with ASD, and openness to, and preferred format of, receiving additional training. Overall, interest in training was high, most providers were willing to attend at least one training session. Providers who experienced child behaviors that interfered with learning were significantly more likely to be interested in additional training. However total training hours providers were willing to complete was low compared to typical NDBI training practices and adult learning strategies literature.