Research Project

The University of Texas at Austin,
Departments of Educational Psychology and Special Education
July, 2005

Project Title: Understanding the decision making process that parents use in selecting treatments for their children with Autism or Down Syndrome IRB# 2002-10-0098

Dear Colleague/Parent,

I am writing to alert you to a survey about the treatment of behavioral inflexibility in individuals with Down Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Institutional Review Board at The University of Texas at Austin has approved this research project.  The survey asks parents to indicate the extent to which specific situations are a problem for their son/daughter and also to indicate whether they are currently using any treatments to address these types of problems. It would be great to have as many parents as possible respond to the survey as we believe the results will provide invaluable information regarding how individuals with Down Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder cope with daily frustrations and what type of treatments are being used to address these problems. This information will be useful in helping clinicians develop effective interventions for these problem behaviors.

I would appreciate it very much if you could inform interested parents about  the survey.

The survey is anonymous and can be completed in about 10 minutes by visiting the following website**: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=925071183826

**Please note that despite the strange name of the company responsible for the software used to create this online survey, they are indeed a legitimate company that is frequently used by scholars and professionals alike.

Thank you,

Jonathan Itchon
Graduate Student, Educational Psychology
The University of Texas at Austin

Vanessa Green, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology
The University of Texas at Austin

Jeff Sigafoos, Ph.D.
Professor, Special Education
The University of Texas at Austin

Keenan Pituch, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Educational Psychology
The University of Texas at Austin

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