OBJECTIVE. We tested an occupational therapy contextual intervention for improving participation in children with autism spectrum disorders and for developing parental competence. METHOD. Using a repeated-measures pretest–posttest design, we evaluated the effectiveness of a contextually relevant reflective guidance occupational therapy intervention involving three components: authentic activity settings, family’s daily routines, and the child’s sensory processing patterns (Sensory Profile). We used these components to coach 20 parents in strategies to support their child’s participation. Intervention sessions involved reflective discussion with parents to support them in identifying strategies to meet their goals and make joint plans for the coming week. We measured child participation (Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Goal Attainment Scaling) and parent competence (Parenting Sense of Competence, Parenting Stress Index). RESULTS. Results indicated that parents felt more competent and children significantly increased participation in everyday life, suggesting that this approach is an effective occupational therapy intervention.

The purpose of this study was to understand the perceptions of mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who participated in 10 one-hour coaching sessions. Coaching occurred between an occupational therapist and mother and consisted of information sharing, action, and reflection. Researchers asked 10 mothers six open-ended questions with follow-up probes related to their experiences with coaching. Themes were identified, labeled, and categorized. Themes emerged related to relationships, analysis, reflection, mindfulness, and self-efficacy. Findings indicate that parents perceive the therapist-parent relationship, along with analysis and reflection, as core features that facilitate increased mindfulness and self-efficacy. The findings suggest that how an intervention is provided can lead to positive outcomes, including increased mindfulness and self-efficacy.

Obesity is a public health concern for the population in general and for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) specifically. The purpose of this study was to understand relationships between sensory patterns, obesity, and physical activity engagement of children with ASD (N = 77) sampled from a specialized community-based swimming program. This retrospective correlational study analyzed program data. Results show that almost half (42.2%) of the children were overweight or obese, and sensory avoiding behaviors were related to higher body mass index (BMI). Children participated in few formal and informal physically active recreation activities. Sensory seeking behaviors were associated with increased participation in informal activities, and higher BMI was associated with less participation in both formal and informal activities. Practitioners should consider sensory processing patterns and BMI when developing community-based programs to promote physical activity of children with ASD.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of short-term dietary supplementation with vitamin D 3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25[OH]D 3 ) on indicators of vitamin D status in healthy dogs. ANIMALS13 purpose-bred adult dogs. PROCEDURES 20 extruded commercial dog foods were assayed for 25(OH)D 3 content. Six dogs received a custom diet containing low vitamin D concentrations and consumed a treat with vitamin D 2 (0.33 µg/kg 0.75 ) plus 1 of 3 doses of 25(OH)D 3 (0, 0.23, or 0.46 µg/kg 0.75 ) once daily for 8 weeks followed by the alternate treatments in a crossover-design trial. In another crossoverdesign trial, 7 dogs received a custom diet supplemented with vitamin D 3 or 25(OH)D 3 (targeted content, 3,250 U/kg [equivalent to 81.3 µg/kg] and 16 µg/kg, respectively, as fed) for 10 weeks followed by the alternate treatment. In washout periods before each trial and between dietary treatments in the second trial, dogs received the trial diet without D-vitamer supplements. Dietary intake was monitored. Serum or plasma concentrations of vitamin D metabolites and biochemical variables were analyzed at predetermined times. RESULTS25(OH)D 3 concentrations were low or undetected in evaluated commercial diets. In the first trial, vitamin D 2 intake resulted in quantifiable circulating concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 2 but not 24R,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 2 . Circulating 25(OH)D 3 concentration appeared to increase linearly with 25(OH)D 3 dose. In the second trial, circulating 25(OH)D 3 concentration increased with both D vitamer-supplemented diets and did not differ significantly between treatments. No evidence of vitamin D excess was detected in either trial. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCEPotency of the dietary 25(OH)D 3 supplement estimated on the basis of targeted content was 5 times that of vitamin D 3 to increase indicators of vitamin D status in the study sample. No adverse effects attributed to treatment were observed in short-term feeding trials.

Objective. Autistic children experience sensory challenges that interfere with participation and increase parent stress. Sensory-based interventions are used to address children’s behaviors affected by sensory processing difficulties, but research is limited regarding use of sensory garments to support participation of autistic children. This study explored sensory garment effects on participation, parental competence, and perceived stress of autistic children and their parents. Method. Twenty-one children were recruited and 17 males with ASD and atypical sensory processing patterns completed the 14-week study. The Canadian Occupational Performance (COPM) and Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) were used to set and monitor participation goals. After a baseline period, children wore sensory garment(s) for 8 weeks. The COPM, GAS, Parent Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF), and Parent Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC) were administered four times (prebaseline, before and after the intervention, and three weeks postintervention). Results. There were moderate to large significant differences in both COPM and GAS scores after the intervention and from the beginning to the end of the study indicating sensory garments may improve participation of autistic children. There were no significant differences in PSI or PSOC at any timepoint. Two children rejected the garments. Conclusions. Parent- or child-selected sensory garments may improve participation in individually meaningful activities for children who can tolerate wearing them. Children’s improvement in participation did not improve parent stress or competence, possibly due to the passive nature of the intervention. More research is needed explore the influence of heterogeneous sensory patterns on response to intervention.