The ACT SMARTER project will redesign and test an evidence-based implementation toolkit called, “Autism Community Toolkit: Systems to Measure and Adopt Research-Based Treatments (ACT SMART).
The ACT SMART toolkit was developed and shown to be effective in targeting autism EBP decision-making in community settings and has immense potential to improve autism EBP adoption and implementation. The goal of the current project is to conduct an educational redesign of ACT SMART for use in public schools with input from stakeholders so that the implementation toolkit can be useful and usable in middle and high schools.
Over the past couple of months, we have worked with school district administrators, middle and high school administrators, general and special education teachers, paraeducators, autistic students in grades 6-12, caregivers, and implementation experts to redesign ACT SMART so that the implementation toolkit can be useful and usable to middle and high schools. From this redesign, we have created the ACT SMARTS Toolkit: Adoption of Curricular supports Toolkit: Systematic Measurement of Appropriateness and Readiness for Translation in Schools.
Now, we want to pilot test the ACT SMARTS toolkit in 6 middle and high schools during the 2023-24 school year.
Who is invited to participate?
Any middle or high school in California or Washington that is interested in partnering with us to implement the ACT SMARTS toolkit in their school during the 2023-24 school year.
What is required for participation?
Your involvement in this study will last approximately 9 months. During this time, you will participate in the ACT SMARTS process which involves meeting with the research staff and a team of 3-6 educators and leaders from your school. Together you will identify, select, plan, and implement an evidence-based practice (EBP) for autistic students at your school. You can learn more from our study overview and study timeline which are attached.
Benefits of participation
If your school chooses to participate in the pilot phase of the ACT SMARTS study, educators at your school will receive free training on an autism evidence-based practice as well as tools to support the selection of autism services in the future! If you are interested in the study, please click here to complete the following screener.
If you’d like additional information about participating, please see the below flyers and/or contact us at actsmarter@uw.edu or schedule a meeting here.
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