Telehealth Practice-Based Coaching in Functional Communication Training for Caregivers of Young Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Caregivers of young children with neurodevelopmental disabilities report a need for training and support in reducing their children’s challenging behavior at home. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a telehealth caregiver training program comprised of online modules and weekly practice-based coaching on caregiver implementation fidelity of functional communication training and associated outcomes of child challenging behavior and communication. Using a single case nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across caregiver-child dyads, we observed improvements in FCT implementation fidelity, decreases in challenging behavior, and increases in manding. Participants rated the telehealth program delivery and the FCT intervention as socially valid.