New autism program helps parents help kids in Low-Income areas
NCT ID NCT04505488
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a program called ASPEN, which coaches parents of young children with autism in low-resource communities. The program includes 12 sessions teaching parents strategies to improve their child's social communication and play skills, while also reducing parenting stress. Researchers measured changes in child behavior, parenting stress, and parent empowerment.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- parent-coaching program (ASPEN)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this program could provide a low-cost, culturally adapted way for families in low-resource communities to support their child's social and communication skills.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed study with 180 participants, but results are not yet widely confirmed. The program relies on parent training, so success may vary by family engagement and support.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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180 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2020
- Finished
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May 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 months to 6 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Child is between 18 months through 6 years of age * Child has a medical diagnosis or educational classification of Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or child is at-risk for Autism/ASD as determined by the Modified-Checklist for Autism in Toddlers - Revised/Follow-up Interview (M-CHAT-R/F) and/or Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) * Child resides in a low-resource household as determined by at least one of the following criteria: * -Child or family has Medicaid as an insurance provider * -Child's primary caregiver has achieved a high school or lower education * -Child resides in a household with an annual income of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level Exclusion Criteria: * Primary caregiver does not speak/understand English or Spanish * Child is younger 18 months or older than 6 years of age * Child does not have a medical diagnosis or educational classification of Autism/ASD or does not meet at-risk criteria on the M-CHAT-R/F and/or SCQ * Child does not reside in low-resource household
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas, 78758, United States
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