HOW WAS THE SMOOTH SAILING PROGRAM DEVELOPED?
Smooth Sailing was developed in partnership with teachers in K-2nd grade general education classrooms and autistic adults, with additional consultation from parents, autistic adolescents, and other school-based professionals.
This work has been funded by the Institute of Education Sciences [2011-2016 #R324A1100836; 2018-2023 Grant # R324A180105; 2023-2028 Grant # R324A230223].
We continue to learn and refine the program each year!
Studying autistic children’s school experiences
In 2011-2016, our team conducted a long-term study with 180 children on the autism spectrum in preschool through 2nd grade to identify students’ needs during the early school years.
Through this longitudinal research study, we were able to identify aspects of these early school experiences that were crucial in predicting or influencing children’s later school adaptation, academic development, and well-being.
Through this study, we learned from teachers about their need for more support in understanding autism and in building strong relationships with autistic students.
Program Development
In 2018-2021, we developed the Smooth Sailing professional development program in collaboration with teachers and autistic adults. Through focus groups with teachers, followed by close, long-term consultation with teachers, we identified relationship-building strategies and program content that were most relevant and feasible for teachers’ needs. Further, through ongoing consultation with autistic adults, we identified key needs and content to prioritize in the program.
Our team developed program materials through an iterative process – creation of materials, trying them out, and incorporating further feedback from teachers and autistic adults — on each component.
Next, in 2020 and 2021, we conducted small trials of the program with teachers, obtaining feedback at each stage to further maximize the program’s utility and feasibility.
Measuring the Program’s Impact
In 2021-2023 we delivered our four-week PD program to 32 teachers in Massachusetts and California, followed up with these teachers over time, and analyzed the program’s impact on teachers and students. By using a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) we were able to determine the program’s direct effect.
We found that the program led to improvements in teachers’ autism knowledge and preparedness, the quality of student-teacher relationships, and autistic students’ social-emotional adjustment and academic engagement in school, among other gains, relative to teachers in the control group.
Here is a brief report describing our preliminary results from this trial.
The Current Project
In 2023, we received a 5-year grant to deliver the PD program to 150 teachers in California and Massachusetts.
We are now enrolling teachers in this program for the 2024-2025 school year.
Through this grant-funded program, we will deliver individualized coaching and didactics to general education teachers in K-2nd grade to equip teachers with tools to improve their classroom interactions with autistic students.
Our program emphasizes a neurodiversity-oriented, affirming understanding of autism that centers the perspectives of autistic people to help teachers feel prepared help autistic learners thrive.
How Effective is Smooth Sailing?
A 2020-2021 efficacy trial of the Smooth Sailing program showed promising results: the program led to improvements in teachers’ autism knowledge, the quality of student-teacher relationships, and autistic students’ social-emotional adjustment in the classroom, among other areas, relative to a control group.
Here is a brief report describing our preliminary results from this trial.
Ready to learn more about Smooth Sailing?
Follow this link to fill out a Screening Survey to learn more about our upcoming 2024-2025 PD program for K, 1st, and 2nd grade teachers.
Additionally, please sign up for our mailing list below to learn about future participation opportunities.
You may also email us with any questions.
You may reach our coordinator, Liz Benitez, for any questions about this program, at smoothsailingstudy@gmail.com.
You can also reach our program directors, including Abbey Eisenhower at UMass Boston (abbey.eisenhower@umb.edu) and Jan Blacher at UC Riverside (jan.blacher@ucr.edu).