Association for Behavior Analysis International

While multiple measures are used to inform and assess compatibility with supported living placements for adults on the autism spectrum with intellectual disabilities, no single measure has considered all the relevant factors. Therefore, Kerry’s Place Autism Services (KPAS) developed the Group Living Compatibility Assessment Tool (GCAT) to predict the potential compatibility of prospective housemates. The GCAT includes six domains consistent with a behavioural perspective using a bio-psycho-social approach to compatibility and challenging behaviour. The assessment aims to identify environmental modifications and skill development opportunities that could improve prospective housemates’ compatibility and transitions. In partnership with researchers from Brock University, this research aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the GCAT. To establish the content validity of the GCAT, we conducted three projects: a scoping review of the current literature, a survey of experts in the field, and focus groups with self-advocates and family members. The results suggest that the areas included in the GCAT are consistent with the literature, resonant with our experts, self-advocates, and family groups, and are socially significant to persons on the autism spectrum while also suggesting potential areas to improve the GCAT. We will also review next steps for the research and insights for professional practice.

Must have a strong understanding of principles of applied behaviour analysis. Specifically the impact of the environment on behaviour, and the importance of creating socially significant treatment goals.

Many adults on the autism spectrum live in group-based settings. While the person should be central to the decision regarding placements, there are limited resources to aid in determining potential roommate compatibility. Challenging behaviours and placement breakdowns can often occur when social and environmental factors are not considered. This scoping review explores the current research on the factors that influence the compatibility of roommates on the autism spectrum. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, 41 resources were reviewed to identify issues that influenced roommate compatibility and living arrangements. A deductive content analysis was used to identify areas within six subdomains: general house details, health needs, sensory, lifestyle, social interaction, and behavioural profile. Initial results suggest the highest supported subdomain was social interaction and the least represented subdomains include health needs and lifestyle. The literature also suggested additional subdomains to consider, including the importance of one’s culture and balancing the right to make choices while considering safety. This scoping review will be used to inform an assessment to guide the placement decisions of prospective housemates and improve the transition process.

Evidence-based practice calls for integrating clinical judgment, the best available evidence, and client values and characteristics in professional decision-making (Slocum et al., 2014). Since there is no standardized measure to assess compatibility between adults on the autism spectrum, experts often rely on their clinical and professional experiences. To capture these experiences, a virtual questionnaire was sent to experts in the developmental field, including Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBA) at a Master or Doctoral level, psychologists, researchers, and persons in senior leadership positions. Experts were asked to evaluate and provide feedback on the GCAT items, scoring, and administration and suggest additional areas of compatibility. A Content Validity Ratio (CVR; Lawshe, 1975) was conducted on all expert responses (n = 56) and compared across groups of experts (leadership vs. clinical groups; less or more than ten years of experience). Several items exceeded the Lawshe minimum values (Ayre & Scally, 2013) for experienced clinicians and leaders representing five of the six subdomains, including general house details, sensory profile, health and safety, social and behavioural profile. Interestingly, the leadership group agreed with each other the most and years of experience in the field also appeared to be a relevant factor in establishing consensus.