Considerations for effective dissemination of evidence-based early intervention approaches.
Re-brand your early-intervention program with a catchy name and picture manual so preschool staff will use it right away.
01Research in Context
What this study did
van der Miesen et al. (2024) wrote a how-to paper. They asked, "How do we get preschool teachers to use ABA early-intervention programs?"
The team did not run an experiment. They listed steps to turn research programs into ready-to-go packages.
What they found
The paper says teachers skip programs that look hard or dull.
Bright names, clear manuals, and short videos make uptake easy.
Brand the program so teachers ask for it by name, like asking for a favorite cereal.
How this fits with other research
Szabo et al. (2020) already did this at home. They called tiny ABA steps "kid superpowers" and parents used them daily. R et al. widen the idea to whole classrooms.
Hendrix et al. (2022) show most parent programs chase only problem behavior. R et al. add: package the program first, then teachers will use it for any goal.
Friman (2014) told us to write in plain words for doctors. R et al. move the same logic from journal pages to lesson plans.
Why it matters
You can have the best data in the world, but if the box looks boring the shelf stays full. Rename your social-skills plan to "Friendship Power Pack." Swap long jargon sheets for one-page picture steps. Hand the new bundle to the preschool team next week and watch them actually open it.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Dissemination, or the widespread sharing of information, is important for moving research evidence into community practice. Early intervention programs for young autistic children have not yet been widely disseminated to the early childhood workforce. This letter describes factors that may support or prevent dissemination to community-based settings, such as packaging and branding early intervention approaches. We argue that an increased focus on dissemination research is needed.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2024 · doi:10.1177/13623613241253117