Wendy Machalicek

• Ph.D. Special Education, BCBA-D
• Professor (Associate) at University of Oregon

Purpose This article reports the results of a single-case experimental multiple-baseline study across participants aiming to evaluate treatment effects of a metacognitive, joint reflection intervention package for social communication after acquired brain injury (ABI). Method Four adults with a history of ABI and their everyday communication partn...

This chapter highlights the unique challenges and needs of families with autistic children, emphasizing the critical role of parental involvement and sibling engagement in early interventions. It reviews evidence-based practices for parent- and sibling-mediated interventions, family support mechanisms, and strategies to improve parental mental heal...

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are considered the gold standard of evidence guiding intervention selection in rehabilitation. However, conduct of sufficiently powered RCTs in rehabilitation can be expensive, pose ethical and attrition concerns when participants are assigned to ineffective treatment as usual conditions, and are infeasible with...

Children with developmental delays are more likely to experience difficulties in social-emotional skills and challenging behavior, which can lead to poor long-term outcomes if left untreated. The purpose of this literature review was to synthesize the literature related to home-based interventions to address social–emotional skills and challenging...

Visual analysis of graphed data is a prominent strategy employed by single-case researchers to document data stability and to ascertain whether a causal relation is demonstrated between the intervention and the dependent variable. Contemporary best practice also includes the use of non-parametric non-overlap metrics or parametric effect sizes to sy...

Single-case intervention research design standards have evolved considerably over the past decade. These standards serve the dual role of assisting in single-case design (SCD) intervention research methodology and as guidelines for literature syntheses within a particular research domain. In a recent article (Kratochwill et al., 2021), we argued fo...

This paper is supported and co-published by the following journals, and their Editors in Chief: Annals of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine − Dominic Pérennou American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation − Walter Frontera Developmental Neurorehabilitation − Wendy Machalicek European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine − Ste...

Disparities in diagnosis and access to healthcare and therapeutic services are well-documented for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from minoritized races and ethnicities, but there is little empirical research to guide the selection and implementation of interventions and practices that will effectively support racially/ethnically dive...

This was the first trial of a new intervention for social communication after brain injury, Collaborative Interpersonal Strategy Building with Audio Reflection (CISBAR).

In this special section of Perspectives on Behavior Science, Slocum et al. (2022) provide a summary of the logic and protocol for the construction, implementation, and analysis of single-case multiple-baseline designs. A major contribution of this article is a reassessment of the nonconcurrent multiple baseline design as a credible approach to docu...

Establishing evidence- and research-based practices relies upon research synthesis of individual studies in reviews and meta analyses. Further summarizing scientific evidence about a specific topic by synthesizing reviews is an area of need to determine practices that have a strong evidence base and to identify areas of methodological weakness and...

Children and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are more likely to engage in challenging and interfering behavior than their typically developing peers, which has been linked to many negative outcomes. The most effective interventions to address challenging and interfering behavior incorporate function-based assessme...

Numerous developmental difficulties differentiate children with autism from typically developing children, including delays in social communication skills. In this study, we used a multiple baseline design across three behaviors (i.e., imitation, behavioral requests, and response to joint attention) for two parent–child dyads to investigate the eff...

This systematic review summarizes and analyzes the literature on sportsmanship interventions for individuals with autism. Electronic database searches (i.e., PsycNet, ERIC) and ancestral searches were conducted to find relevant articles. Twenty-eight studies were included in this study that used experimental designs that targeted sportsmanship beha...

In this paper, we provide a critique focused on the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Standards for Single-Case Research Design (Standards 4.1). Specifically, we (a) recommend the use of visual-analysis to verify a single-case intervention study's design standards and to examine the study's operational issues, (b) identify limitations of the design-co...

This systematic literature review evaluates research on interventions to increase successful participation in medical procedures and health‐promoting routines by children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Electronic database searches of Eric, PsycInfo, and MEDLINE and ancestral review were conducted to identify studi...

To present interdisciplinary teams (IDTs) as foundational to effective assessment for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This conceptual paper encourages IDTs by (a) presenting practice guidelines and research supporting effective IDTs; (b) describing vital team characteristics; (c) introducing a new model of teaming practices with a cli...

Complementary and reciprocal interactions are a defining feature of sibling relationships for young children. However, the social and communication difficulties of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can make reciprocal play more difficult and play between siblings can be less rewarding. Sibling play can serve an important role in interven...

The present study evaluated treatment acceptability for behavioral interventions addressing challenging behaviors with Chinese caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Factors influencing treatment acceptability (i.e., severity of challenging behavior and Chinese child-rearing values) were investigated. Caregivers of children aged 2–12...

One pervasive social issue that has received little attention within the behavior-analytic community is racism and the systemic oppression of Black, Indigenous, and non-Black people of color. The present article offers guidance and examples of how each of us as behavior analysts might build individualized self-management behavior change plans that...

Years can elapse between parental suspicion of a developmental delay and a diagnostic assessment, ultimately delaying access to medically necessary, autism-specific intervention. Using a single-case, concurrent multiple baseline design, autism spectrum disorder symptomology (i.e., higher-order restrictive and repetitive behaviors and interests; hig...

One pervasive social issue that has received little attention within the behavior analytic community is racism and the systemic oppression of Black, Indigenous, and non-Black People of Color (BIPOC). The present paper offers guidance and examples of how each of us as behavior analysts might build individualized self-management behavior change plans...

Background: Attrition, missing data, compliance, and related biases are three interrelated concepts. Previous research has found that these biases can affect the treatment estimates of randomized trials (RCTs). The extent to which the effects of attrition, missing data, compliance, and related biases influence effect size estimates in rehabilitati...

Background: Attrition, missing data, compliance, and related biases can influence the magnitude of treatment effects in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). It is unclear which items should be considered when reporting and evaluating the influence of these biases in trial reports in the rehabilitation field. Objectives: To describe which individ...

Background Behavioural skills training (BST) has demonstrated effectiveness in training teachers in evidence‐based interventions to increase communication for children with limited repertoires. However, research has yet to extend to youth with developmental disabilities who are learning to communicate using speech‐generating devices. The emergent u...

The study investigated the impact of the electronic Goal Attainment Scaling (eGAS) process on medical speech-language pathologists’ (SLPs) interviewing and goal setting. The process was trained via the eGAS app, designed to facilitate motivational interviewing and goal attainment scaling. The study utilized a single-case, nonconcurrent, multiple-ba...

Issues with sleep onset and maintenance are common among many children and adolescents with developmental disabilities. A lack of experienced practitioners, financial cost, and practical issues associated with providing parent coaching in the family home during evenings pose a number of barriers to successful sleep intervention. Telehealth interven...

The purpose of these two volume special issues on the use of telehealth in behavioral assessment and intervention is to share research that advances our understanding of the utility of telehealth in behavioral education and considerations for use. Eleven articles spanning synthesis, single-case deigns, group experimental designs and case studies il...

This two-site randomized waitlist-control study (n = 96 mother–child dyads) examined the efficacy of a psychoeducation program as compared to usual care to empower Latina mothers and improve their confidence in and use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for their children with ASD. A secondary aim was to improve child outcomes. Compared to control...

Background: One of the goals of Cochrane Rehabilitation is to strengthen methodology relevant to Evidence Based Clinical Practice. Towards this goal, several research activities have been performed in rehabilitation literature: a scoping review listed the methodological issues in research, a study showed the low clinical replicability of Randomize...

Paraeducators are ideal candidates for delivering communication interventions to children with developmental disabilities and delays (DD) because they spend a significant amount of time with these children. However, professional development is often inadequate and limited research supports best practices. Additionally, paraeducators work with multi...

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with social skills difficulties, which can create barriers for them to develop friendships with their peers. Playdates are a common way that young children practice play and friendship skills in home and community environments. Few studies have trained parents to embed social skills instruction i...

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display social-communication deficits and present with rigid and repetitive patterns of behavior and/or interests (RRBIs). Compared to interventions for social-communication skills, less attention has been given to RRBIs, especially with regard to interventions for young children. We surveyed 128 behavio...

Individuals with disabilities who are English learners (ELs) and communicate using speech generating devices (SGDs) may demonstrate a preference for instructional language and language output of their SGDs. The influence of interventionist language on the preference of SGD language output and frequency of mands was examined using an alternating-tre...

Children need opportunities to practice social skills outside of school, and a common means for this is through playdates. There are few studies examining methods to teach children with ASD social skills during playdates and have included children with advanced language skills, such as the ability to ask questions to peers. In the current study, we...

A concurrent randomized multiple baseline across three mother-child dyads single-case design was employed to evaluate the effects of a brief mindfulness-infused behavioral parent training program. The program included strategies embedded within the context of natural family routines. Three mothers and their children with autism spectrum disorder pa...

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) present with social skills difficulties, which can create barriers for children with ASD to develop friendships with their peers. Playdates are a common way that young children practice play and friendship skills in home and community environments. Few studies have trained parents to embed social skills...

This systematic literature review examines single-case intervention research targeting academic and related skills for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in school settings. Fifty-four studies published between 1995 and 2014 met inclusion criteria. Tau-U was calculated for each study to examine the effectiveness of interventions. The mean...

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities are at risk of isolation from same-aged peers. Furthermore, research indicates that even in inclusive settings, children with ASD benefit from targeted interventions and support. Among the social communication skills that are frequently absent in children with ASD is...

As the incidence of ASD continues to rise and the Latino population grows, greater numbers of Latino families are impacted by ASD. Latino and immigrant families may be disadvantaged by socioeconomic, cultural and political factors in seeking diagnosis and care for their children....Presented here is preliminary evidence about the effectiveness of a...

Joint attention is a pivotal social communication skill often absent or impaired in young children with autism spectrum disorder. Joint attention is the shared and alternating attention of two individuals on an object or event, and has implications for later communication and social communication skills. This study used a concurrent multiple -basel...

Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience unique challenges in performing their caregiving roles, often experiencing greater levels of parental stress than other parents. A systematic review of the literature on interventions to improve parental well-being among parents of children with ASD was conducted using three electro...

Given the continued changes in demographic diversity of students in the United States, it is important to ensure that participants included in special education research reflect the diversity of the classroom. We examined 16 years of intervention research across 12 special education journals to evaluate the extent to which diverse student populatio...

This paper presents a conceptual model to improve the early intervention of repetitive behavior in infants and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We include (a) a description of the trajectory of repetitive behavior in typical and atypical development and an explanation of its relation to screening and assessment and (b) a selectiv...

Despite its utility, there is limited applied research on employing fixed-lean (FL) schedules of reinforcement in treatment packages to address challenging behavior. One potential reason is that abrupt shifts to terminal schedules of reinforcement have been associated with immediate increases in challenging behavior before subsiding to clinically a...

We reviewed single-case research studies examining the effects of behavioral interventions for self-injurious behavior (SIB) in young children with autism and developmental disabilities. Systematic searches of electronic databases, journals, and reference lists identified 46 studies (66 participants younger than the age of 12) meeting inclusion cri...

The extant literature on social communication interventions for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been well reviewed. However, current reviews of the literature indicate more research is needed on advanced social skills for young children with ASD. These more complex social skills, such as sustaining a conversation, showing emp...

In this concurrent multiple baseline single-case research study, we investigated the effectiveness and generalization of a parent-implemented joint attention intervention response to joint attention skills of three young children with autism and parents’ treatment fidelity of implementation. Results indicated that parents were able to implement the...

Child development occurs within the context of the child's family, neighborhood, and community environment. Early childhood providers support positive outcomes, not only for the children with whom they directly work with but also for their families. Families of children with developmental delays often experience unique challenges. A family resilien...

Background: Practices to facilitate self-determination have not received appropriate attention in research concerning parents with intellectual disabilities (ID). Likewise, parenting interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities have seldom observed both parent and child behavioural outcomes. Methods: This study evaluated the effective...

In this study, desktop video teleconferencing was used to facilitate behavioral consultation at a distance with three parents of school-age children with autism spectrum disorders. Parents were supported via desktop video teleconferencing as they conducted functional analyses and learned to implement an antecedent manipulation strategy, functional...

A review of existing literature revealed only two studies investigating play date interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder. This pilot study trained one father to teach his four-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder to mand to a typically developing peer during a simulated play date at a university-based clinic setting. The fat...

Parents have been trained to implement many of the most common early interventions used with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Parents have unequaled access to their children and, in many cases, may be the most efficient and natural intervention agents. However, parent implemented interventions have also been identified as a source of s...

Using a single case design, a parent-mediated spoken-language intervention was delivered to three mothers and their school-aged sons with fragile X syndrome, the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability. The intervention was embedded in the context of shared storytelling using wordless picture books and targeted three empirically derived...

Students with challenging behavior severe enough to warrant placement in a self-contained special education classroom statistically have poor school and post-school outcomes compared to typical peers. Teachers in these classrooms often lack sufficient training to meet student needs. This pilot study investigated the use of a telehealth consultation...

Purpose This study examined the effects of a naturalistic parent-implemented language intervention on the use of verbally responsive language by mothers of 6 young boys with fragile X syndrome. The intervention included parent education sessions and clinician coaching delivered onsite and by distance video-teleconferencing. Method A single-case mu...

One of the most common and debilitating of the comorbid psychological conditions among persons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are challenging behaviors. The purpose of this chapter will be to define the problems, discuss their prevalence, and how they overlap and/or interface.

Previous research has shown tangibly maintained challenging behavior can be temporarily decreased by providing presession access to the relevant tangible. However, the duration of this beneficial effect is unknown. We measured the subsequent duration of behavior reduction effects following presession access during extended classroom observation ses...

Purpose: This editorial provides a brief history of the journal Developmental Neurorehabilitation and describes changes occurring as the journal transitions from Informa Health Care to Taylor & Francis publishing company. The changes described include (a) revised and expanded description of the journal's aims and scope; (b) addition of 10 new posi...

The increased prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among Latino children, later diagnosis, limited access to bicultural specialist support, and worsened health outcomes when compared to non-Latinos points to the need for a culturally relevant parent education intervention. This pilot study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and prelim...

Some individuals with developmental disabilities develop inappropriate sexual behaviors such as public masturbation, disrobing, and touching others in an unwanted sexual manner. Such acts are problematic given the taboo nature of the behaviors and the potential for significant negative consequences, such as restricted community access, injury, and...

This review summarizes selected studies involving education and training programs designed to improve parents’ ability to provide research-based support and intervention for their children with intellectual disabilities. First, we highlight stressors and obstacles associated with parenting a child with intellectual disability and note the relative...

Recently, the field has seen an increase in the publication of meta-analyses and systematic reviews of treatments for people with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities, which are critical in providing practitioners and other stakeholders with information regarding for whom and in what contexts particular treatments are most effect...

We reviewed studies utilizing task sequencing to improve academic outcomes for children with emotional and/or behavioral disorders (EBD) in educational settings. Task sequencing interventions included high-probability, high-preference, and task interspersal interventions. Although task sequencing is commonly used in research, a synthesis of recent...

Unlabelled: Using the Developmental Play Assessment, this preliminary study described the categories and levels of play with objects produced by 10 young boys with diagnoses of full mutation fragile X syndrome, the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability. Additionally, the study examined concurrent associations between child characteris...

Background Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often present with little or no speech. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) aims to promote functional communication using non-speech modes, but it might also influence natural speech production. Method To investigate this possibility, we provided AAC intervention to two boys with...

Purpose: Although fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading inherited cause of intellectual disability, there are no published intervention studies focused on improving communication and language outcomes for affected children. The current study utilized a collaborative coaching approach incorporating strategies from speech-language pathology and ap...

We used the paired-stimulus (PS) and multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment procedures to identify high and low preferred topographies of attention for two children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Both preference assessment formats identified the same high and low preferred forms of attention. A reinforcer assessme...

This study evaluated the assessment and treatment of problem behaviors related to rituals for children with autism. After functional analyses, we used a multiple-probe design to examine the effects of functional communication training (FCT) plus extinction and schedule thinning as a treatment package for problem behavior and appropriate communicati...

Changes in legislation have led to an increased push for children with autism spectrum disorder to be educated in classrooms with typically developing peers. This systematic review of the literature between the years of 2005 and 2012 aimed to identify effective interventions to support the children with autism spectrum disorder in the inclusive pre...

This study used experimental functional analyses to examine the operant function of challenging behaviors exhibited by 12 males (ages 27–51 months) with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Eight children met criteria for negatively reinforced challenging behavior in the form of escape from demands and/or escape from social interactions. Nine children met cri...

We measured generalization, maintenance and parent reports of child happiness in the context of a behavioral intervention to teach toy-play skills to three young children with autism. Lag schedules of reinforcement were implemented for two participants whose play did not initially generalize. The play skills intervention was conducted within the pa...

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by communication and social impairments, and restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests (American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Children with autism also often engage in challenging beha...

We compared the effects of a token economy intervention that either did or did not include the perseverative interests of a 7-year-old boy with autism. An alternating treatment design revealed that the perseverative interest-based tokens were more effective at decreasing challenging behavior and increasing on-task behavior than tokens absent the pe...

This chapter provides an overview of studies that have evaluated the use of assistive technology with individuals diagnosed with acquired brain injury. The chapter begins with an overview of acquired brain injury and the potential impact on functional skill areas. Following this introduction, an overview of selected research studies examining both...

This study examined 68 parents' views of the self-determination skills and capacities of their young adult children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability (ages 19 Y 21 years). Results indicated parents placed a high value on the importance of all seven component skills (i.e., choice-making skills, decision-making skills, goal-s...

A growing body of research provides effective interventions to address the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). However, adolescents with ASDs may face age-specific challenges necessitating the need for contextually relevant and effective interventions. This systematic review examined peer-reviewed intervention research for adolescents...

Children with developmental disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often engage in challenging behavior when presented with academic demands. Parents of school-age children with such diagnoses are commonly asked to assist their child with academic tasks but may struggle to do so as a result of challenging behavior. This study eva...

Maternal verbal responsiveness in naturally occurring interactions is known to facilitate language development for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The present study used a series of A-B replications to examine proximal effects of a naturalistic language intervention on the use of specific language support strategies by mothers of eight...

Objective: This review evaluates research regarding parent education interventions for adults with an intellectual disability (ID). Methods: Electronic database and ancestral searches identified 13 studies published between 1994 and 2012. The results of these studies are discussed in relation to (a) participants and settings; (b) general interve...

This study examined 68 parents' views of the self-determination skills and capacities of their young adult children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disability (ages 19–21 years). Results indicated parents placed a high value on the importance of all seven component skills (i.e., choice-making skills, decision-making skills, goal-set...

Elopement is a potentially dangerous problem behavior prevalent among individuals with developmental disabilities. However, functional analysis of elopement presents unique challenges including potential confounds because of the need for participant retrieval during functional analysis sessions. In the current study, we implemented a latency functi...

Objective: Analyze the effects of noncontingent matched stimulation (NMS) on the self-injurious behavior (SIB) of an eight-year-old boy with autism. Methods: First, a functional analysis was conducted to identify the reinforcers maintaining SIB. Next, an informal preference assessment was conducted to identify a potential object to provide safe...