Adapting and implementing the Sunny Start DANCE programme in New Zealand: A pilot study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the implementation of the Sunny Starts DANCE parent training programme in the New Zealand context. Sunny Start’s primary focus is to enhance the quality of social interactions between parents and their toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Parent training involved teaching parents basic interaction methods to increase their child’s skills through play-based interactions in face-to-face sessions and during the child’s bedtime and morning routines. This training aimed to provide the child with learning opportunities, increase their access to reinforcement, and, in turn, enhance the quality of parent-child interactions. Participants included one parent-child dyad, wherein the child, while not formally diagnosed with ASD, displayed some skill deficits consistent with this disorder. Multiple probe designs across parent and child behaviours and settings were used to evaluate parent and child responses, harmonious engagement, and indices of happiness. Results indicate that some measures increased during face-to-face sessions, whilst little to no improvement occurred during routine sessions. Strengths, limitations, social validity, the validity of findings, generalisation, research implications, clinical implications and future directions are discussed.