Researchers at the University of Navarra are translating training resources into Spanish for interventions with children with student body ASD

Researchers at the Neurodevelopment and Learninggroup t the University of Navarra have translated into Spanish a series of training modules aimed at teachers and families, with the goal of providing resources for student body intervention with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. These modules, known as AFIRM (Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules), are the result of the research conducted by the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They are hosted on the website of the National Clearinghouse of Autism Evidence and Practice, an organization dedicated to the systematic review of scientific literature on interventions for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

“The AFIRM modules are particularly relevant because they are based on evidence-based practices for working with student body children with ASD. It is also a resource widely used in the United States that, until now, was available primarily available in English and, to a limited extent, in other languages (Italian, Portuguese, etc.). “The Spanish translation makes this content accessible to Spanish-speaking teachers and professionals and significantly expands its accessibility and potential for use,” explains Araceli Arellano, a researcher at the Neurodevelopment and Learning group at the University of Navarra.

The 28 modules, available in English, offer practical guidance on how to select, implement, and evaluate educational and therapeutic interventions supported by the research, covering strategies such as visual supports, modeling, reinforcement, social skills, and augmentative communication. “They are designed in an interactive format, in which videos show how pedagogical practices are applied in real-life situations, and guide the Username to reflect on that internship. It also includes implementation protocols and assessment in very practical dossiers. Our goal is also to translate them into Spanish in this interactive format,” notes Carmen Gándara, a researcher at the group. 

This translation stems from the partnership with the American university, at the framework of the project of research Tools for the assessment of educational quality in programs and services for student body with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders, which seeks to validate the APERS (Autism Program Environment Rating Scale), a tool that allows for the evaluation of the psycho-pedagogical strategies used in educational centers that work with student body ASD. The team responsible for translating the training materials includes Araceli Arellano, Carmen Gándara, and Michelle Osuna, members of the Neurodevelopment and Learning group t the University of Navarra.

The translated modules can be found on this page.