Improving interactions between parents, teachers, and staff and individuals with developmental disabilities: a review of caregiver training methods and results

Individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) depend on caregivers to meet physical, emotional, and social needs. This makes relationships with caregivers particularly important to quality of life. Without intervention, social interactions may be limited and ineffective, affecting relationships with caregivers and thus quality of life for individuals with DD. Training may improve interactions between caregivers and individuals with DD. Training content and methods, however, are heterogenous. A review was conducted to identify common elements and methods and analyze variables shown to be most effective in improving outcomes for caregivers and individuals with DD. In general, studies of professional caregiver training (e.g. teachers, staff members) focused primarily on increasing positive interactions or praise, while parent training studies focused more broadly on parenting skills, of which positive interaction was one facet. Training methods differed, but there was some evidence to suggest that those studies that included some element of in situ practice and feedback yielded more robust effects. While caregiver acceptability and/or satisfaction surveys were administered in the majority of studies, fewer studies attempted to measure the satisfaction of individuals with DD. Future research topics are presented in light of these findings.