An Empirical Evaluation of the Disequilibrium Model to Increase Independent Seatwork for an Individual Diagnosed with Autism

Dowdy and team tested a free online calculator called the disequilibrium model.

They used it to pick how long one 17-year-old with autism should do solo seatwork.

The BCBA entered the teen’s past break times, and the tool gave a minute goal.

The teen stayed seated and worked for the exact minutes the calculator predicted.

He kept meeting that goal every day of the study.

Chang et al. (2011) got similar results with a different tool. They gave two young adults a handheld accelerometer that buzzed when they stopped moving. Both tools kept learners on task, one by predicting time and the other by live prompts.

Matson et al. (1989) reviewed 17 older studies on self-monitoring for workers with developmental disabilities. Most showed short-term gains, but the gains often faded. Dowdy’s single-case result is stronger because the teen kept working the full predicted span every session.

Sparapani et al. (2016) built a five-item checklist to watch engagement in elementary students with autism. Their tool measures what Dowdy’s tool predicts, so you can use both: the calculator sets the work length and the checklist shows if the student is really engaged.

You can open the free disequilibrium calculator right now, plug in last week’s break data, and get a seatwork length your learner is likely to tolerate. No extra devices, no long baseline. Try the suggested minutes in your next session and adjust weekly as the data improve.