The RUBI Autism Network
Parent Training Program
For over two decades, The RUBI Autism Network has developed and tested a structured parent training (PT) manual for autistic children with co-occurring challenging behaviors. Initial pilot studies showed that the RUBI manual was acceptable to families and could be reliably delivered by therapists (Bearss et al, 2013; Johnson et al., 2007; RUPP Network, 2007). Demonstration of feasibility set the stage for rigorous testing of the RUBI program in large scale randomized clinical trials (RCTs). These studies showed that RUBI has additional benefit when combined with medication (Aman et al., 2009; Scahill et al., 2012) and that RUBI is superior to parent education for reducing challenging behaviors in young autistic (Bearss et al., 2015). We are now excited to disseminate the RUBI intervention to community providers who support autistic youth and their families.
The RUBI intervention is based on principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and is designed for practitioners to implement with parents of autistic children with co-occurring challenging behaviors, such as meltdowns, shut downs, physical and verbal aggression, property destruction, and transition difficulties. A trained practitioner utilizes the RUBI Manual and accompanying Parent Workbook to guide parents in applying techniques and tools to help address child challenging behaviors.
RUBI includes 11 Core sessions as well as 7 Supplemental sessions, and optional home visits and booster sessions. Each RUBI session contains a therapist script, activity sheets, a parent handout, and treatment fidelity checklists. Additionally, accompanying each core session are 30-60 second video vignettes that the practitioner can use to demonstrate concepts taught in the session. Parents are given home practice plans between sessions that focus on applying techniques to specific behaviors.
