Professor Vicki Bitsika of the BBRG is currently engaged in a research partnership with Ashton’s Place child care centres in Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne to develop and evaluate the effects of a specialised evidence-based intervention for preschool children with autism. It is called the Autism Connect Early (ACE) project, and began in February, 2020.

The aim of the ACE project is to prepare autistic children for school by using specialised strategies to build their learning and social skills, and to connect them with their neurotypical peers in activities within the wider learning community.

“This project is following the theme that ‘The child comes before the label’”, said Professor Bitsika. “These children respond extremely well when they have meaningful connections with their educators and peers. I hope that the research provides us with a strong basis for operationalising and measuring the specific components that are embedded in child-specific and connection-driven early education for children with autism”, she added.

The ACE programme is progressing despite COVID-19, with some onsite and online training being delivered to educators by Prof Bitsika. Although ACE is in the early stages of development, the first cross-centre implementations will occur in Queensland and will most likely begin in latter stages of 2021.

ACE Project

Prof Bitsika training early childhood educators in the ACE project