Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to clarify the type of intensive supervision needed by families who were applying home-based behavioral treatment for children with autism in the absence of constant supervision. Participants were 8 children (age 42-99 months) and their family trainers living in Malaysia. The results of observation sessions prior to the supervision indicated that although the family trainers had learned basic behavioral techniques from manuals and textbooks, the children's correct response rates were relatively low. During the supervising sessions, family trainers received instruction and modeling on the following points: 1) selecting appropriate programs, 2) using strategies to minimize errors, and 3) presenting a variety of rewards. The results showed that after this supervision, the children's correct response rates increased, and the family trainers presented a greater variety of rewards. The results were discussed in terms of 1) teaching techniques that family trainers could learn from manuals and textbooks, 2) necessary supervision, and 3) the general effects of intensive supervision for families conducting home-based behavioral treatment in areas having few professionals.
