Evaluation of interactive computerized training to teach parents to implement photographic activity schedules with children with autism spectrum disorder

Gerencser et al. (2017) built a self-paced computer lesson that teaches parents to run photographic activity schedules. The module used photos, short clips, and quizzes. After parents passed the lesson they tried the schedule with their child at home.

Researchers checked each parent’s accuracy with a simple score sheet. They also came back two weeks later to see if parents still ran the schedule correctly.

All three parents scored high on the fidelity sheet right after the module. They kept the high score when they worked with their child. Two weeks later their scores stayed strong. No extra coaching was needed.

Szempruch et al. (1993) first showed parents could run photo schedules at home without any tech. Gerencser keeps the same schedule but swaps the thick manual for a quick online course. The move saves staff time yet keeps parent accuracy.

Clark et al. (2020) and Novotny et al. (2020) also used short videos or web pages to train parents. Their parents mastered new skills with little or no live help. The 2017 paper joins this line by proving the same light-lift model works for activity schedules.

Gerow et al. (2018) warned that most parent-training papers skip long-term fidelity checks. Gerencser answers that call by adding a two-week follow-up, showing the online lesson keeps parents accurate after the study ends.

You can replace a long in-person parent workshop with a 30-minute online module. Send the link, ask parents to send back their quiz scores, then schedule one quick observation. The saved hours let you serve more families without dropping quality.