Rideshare Training for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Overseen By Alissa Brooke

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University

Disqualifiers: Severe intellectual disability, Rideshare users, Pregnancy

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test a training program to help autistic adults use rideshare services more effectively. Rideshare offers a faster and more flexible transportation option compared to public transit, which can be challenging for some autistic individuals. The trial will have two groups: one will receive the Rideshare Training Program first, while the other will wait two months before receiving the training. Good candidates for this trial are adults with an autism diagnosis who live near Richmond, Virginia, and can use a smartphone independently.

As an Early Phase 1 trial, this research focuses on understanding how the training program works in people, giving participants a chance to be among the first to benefit from this innovative approach.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that the Rideshare Training Program is safe for autistic adults?

Research has shown that rideshare training programs for autistic adults are still quite new, with limited safety information available. This study is in its early stage, focusing primarily on evaluating the training's effectiveness and ensuring its safety.

Although specific safety data for the Rideshare Training Program is not yet available, this phase typically involves a small number of participants. This allows researchers to closely monitor for any issues and make necessary adjustments. The goal at this stage is to ensure the program is manageable for participants and to tailor it to better meet their needs.

For those considering joining the trial, early-stage studies are a crucial step in developing safe and effective training programs. While direct safety data is not yet available, the controlled setting and careful monitoring help protect participants as the program undergoes testing and improvement. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Rideshare Training Program for Autism Spectrum Disorder because it introduces a unique approach to improving independence and social skills. Unlike traditional therapies that might focus on communication or behavioral interventions, this program specifically trains individuals on how to use rideshare services effectively. This practical skill not only enhances mobility but also provides greater access to community resources and activities, potentially improving quality of life. By empowering participants with real-world skills, this program addresses a gap in current treatment options, which often overlook the importance of transportation in daily living.

What evidence suggests that the Rideshare Training Program is effective for autistic adults?

Research has shown that training programs for using rideshare services can help autistic adults navigate their communities more easily. In this trial, participants in the experimental group will first receive the Rideshare Training Program, which aims to simplify tasks and teach specific behaviors to enhance safety and confidence. Studies on similar programs have found that training can increase independence and safety in transportation. For example, some programs use driving simulations to improve travel-related skills. Although direct data on rideshare training is limited, these findings suggest that structured support can help autistic adults use rideshare services to better access their communities. ^{2 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Stacey Reynolds

Principal Investigator

Virginia Commonwealth University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for early adult individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder who may find it challenging to drive or use public transportation. It aims to help them live independently and engage in their community by teaching them how to effectively use rideshare services.

Inclusion Criteria

I can communicate in English on my own.

Living within 100 miles of Richmond, Virginia

Participants need to have a stable internet connection

Exclusion Criteria

Exclude pregnant women

Exclude any individual who already uses Rideshare independently

My IQ is above 35, allowing me to travel alone to familiar places.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

The experimental group receives the SRP intervention for 5 weeks

5 weeks

Follow-up

The experimental group participates in a 2-month follow-up period to assess changes in community engagement, social participation, and employment

8 weeks

Waitlist

The waitlist group receives no intervention initially, then receives the SRP intervention after the experimental group's follow-up

5 weeks

Follow-up

The waitlist group participates in a 2-month follow-up period after receiving the SRP intervention

8 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Rideshare Training Program

Trial Overview The study tests a training program designed to improve the ability of autistic adults to use rideshare apps for better community mobility. Participants will go through ride-along sessions, an intervention phase, and virtual training.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Experimental Group Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

The experimental group will receive the intervention then a 2-month follow-up

Rideshare Training Program is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Rideshare Training Program for:

• Improving access to community-based occupations for autistic adults

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Virginia Commonwealth University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

732

Recruited

22,900,000+

Organization for Autism Research

Collaborator

Trials

7

Recruited

110+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 50 young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 57 typically developed adults revealed that while some individuals with ASD feel confident in their driving abilities, others experience anxiety and prefer alternative transportation methods like public transport.

The findings suggest that tailored driver training programs addressing specific challenges faced by individuals with ASD, such as anxiety and navigation difficulties, could improve their driving experience and promote more inclusive transport policies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Viewpoints on driving of individuals with and without autism spectrum disorder. Chee, DY., Lee, HC., Falkmer, M., et al.[2018]

A training program using an iPad® visual activity schedule significantly improved compliance and reduced anxiety in 52 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during dental examinations over an 8-month period.

The percentage of participants able to complete the entire dental exam increased from 25% to 65.4%, and those reporting no anxiety rose from 7.7% to 59.6%, demonstrating the program's effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training children with autism spectrum disorder to undergo oral assessment using a digital iPad® application. Lefer, G., Rouches, A., Bourdon, P., et al.[2022]

Out of 150 studies on non-medication interventions for young autistic children, only 11 reported any adverse events, highlighting a significant gap in safety reporting in this area of research.

Among the studies that did report on participant withdrawal, 10 identified reasons that could be classified as adverse events, suggesting that researchers need to improve their methods for tracking and reporting these occurrences to better inform families and professionals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse event reporting in intervention research for young autistic children. Bottema-Beutel, K., Crowley, S., Sandbank, M., et al.[2023]

Risperidone has been found to be effective and safe in treating specific behavioral issues in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), such as irritability, aggression, and hyperactivity, based on a review of double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.

However, risperidone does not significantly improve the core symptoms of autism, which include social skill impairments and communication difficulties.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of risperidone in children with autism spectrum disorder. Chavez, B., Chavez-Brown, M., Rey, JA.[2013]

In a study involving 510 pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder, aripiprazole demonstrated a high continuation rate of treatment, with 84.6% of patients still on the medication after 24 weeks, indicating its effectiveness and tolerability in real-world settings.

The treatment led to a significant reduction in irritability symptoms, as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist, with a mean score change of -5.7 after 4 weeks, showing that aripiprazole can effectively manage irritability in children and adolescents with ASD.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aripiprazole in the real-world treatment for irritability associated with autism spectrum disorder in children and adolescents in Japan: 52-week post-marketing surveillance. Sugimoto, Y., Yamamura, K., Takayama, T., et al.[2021]

Individuals on the autism spectrum exhibit different driving characteristics compared to neurotypical drivers, particularly in tactical skills, which may impact their driving safety, although the exact effects are not fully understood.

There is a lack of autism-specific driver training programs, but existing evidence suggests that targeted training can improve driving skills, highlighting the need for the development of effective programs to support independence and safety for these individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Scoping Review of the Driving Behaviour of and Driver Training Programs for People on the Autism Spectrum. Wilson, NJ., Lee, HC., Vaz, S., et al.[2019]

In a 36-month study involving 83 adults with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, it was found that half of the participants were on polypharmacy, taking a median of four medications, primarily antipsychotics.

The study identified 64 adverse events, mostly linked to risperidone, with significant concerns about safety, including unexpected side effects like hypercholesterolemia and rhabdomyolysis, highlighting the need for increased awareness of medication safety in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The challenge of detecting adverse events in adults with autism spectrum disorder who have intellectual disability. Ballester, P., Espadas, C., Londoño, AC., et al.[2022]

The PLAY Project Home Consultation program, which trains parents to use the DIR/Floortime model, showed significant improvements in child development for 68 children with autism over an 8-12 month period, with 45.5% achieving good to very good progress.

Parents reported a high satisfaction rate of 90% with the program, and the average cost of $2500 per year suggests it may be a cost-effective intervention for supporting young children with autism.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot study of a parent training program for young children with autism: the PLAY Project Home Consultation program. Solomon, R., Necheles, J., Ferch, C., et al.[2022]

The 45-minute ASD-training curriculum for hospital security officers significantly improved their comfort levels in interacting with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with scores rising from 3.48 to 4.1 over three months.

Knowledge about ASD also increased, with correct responses on knowledge questions rising from 74.6% to 82.9%, and officers reported using supportive strategies more frequently, indicating the training's effectiveness in practical application.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a Training Curriculum for Hospital Security About Autism Spectrum Disorder. Christiansen, A., Harstad, E., Sideridis, G., et al.[2023]

A training program for healthcare providers working with children with autism spectrum disorder in São Paulo, Brazil, significantly improved staff knowledge and attitudes, as indicated by enhanced scores on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) questionnaire after the training.

The program was well-received by participants and demonstrated feasibility for multidisciplinary teams in psychosocial care centers, suggesting it could be effectively implemented in similar settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of a provider training program on the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorder at psychosocial care units in Brazil. Silva, LC., Teixeira, MCTV., Ribeiro, EL., et al.[2019]

LEND programs across the U.S. provide essential interdisciplinary training for pediatric providers, addressing the growing demand for services for children with developmental disabilities like autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Data from 22 LEND programs over five years show that trainees significantly improved their knowledge, skills, and attitudes in key areas such as team building and family partnerships, highlighting the effectiveness of these training programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Quality Improvement Network for Interdisciplinary Training in Developmental Disabilities. Smith, JD., Nidey, N., Chödrön, GS., et al.[2022]

ECHO Autism is an educational program designed to train local healthcare providers in diagnosing and managing autism spectrum disorder (ASD), addressing the shortage of trained professionals and improving access to quality care for children with ASD.

The program is effective in meeting the complex needs of children with ASD, particularly in rural and underserved areas, and its flexible model allows for global adaptation to different social contexts.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Project Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) Autism: A Successful Model to Increase Capacity in Community-Based Care. Sohl, K., Rynkiewicz, A., Nanclares-Nogués, V., et al.[2022]

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can effectively learn help-seeking responses, such as making FaceTime calls and using identification cards, through video modeling techniques.

The skills learned not only generalized to new community settings but were also maintained over one to two weeks, indicating lasting efficacy of the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Teaching help-seeking when lost to individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Carlile, KA., DeBar, RM., Reeve, SA., et al.[2019]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 72 student drivers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), both the intervention group receiving a Driving Training Program and the control group showed improvements in driving performance after ten lessons.

Although both groups improved, the differences in performance between the intervention and control groups were not statistically significant, suggesting that while the training program is promising, further research is needed to determine its effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Driver Training Program Intervention for Student Drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multi-site Randomised Controlled Trial. Vindin, P., Cordier, R., Wilson, NJ., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 101 children with autism spectrum disorder, risperidone significantly reduced serious behavioral problems without causing adverse cardiac conduction effects, as measured by QTc intervals.

There was no significant difference in QTc changes between the risperidone and placebo groups, indicating that risperidone is safe for cardiac function in this population when used at conventional doses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

No Apparent Cardiac Conduction Effects of Acute Treatment with Risperidone in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Vo, LC., Snyder, C., McCracken, C., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/early-phase-1-autism-early-infantile-2-2024-cf919

Rideshare Training for Autism Spectrum Disorder Trial Overview The study tests a training program designed to improve the ability of autistic adults to use rideshare apps for better community mobility.

2. researchautism.org researchautism.org/oaracle-newsletter/evaluating-a-program-to-expand-transportation-options/

Evaluating a Program to Expand Transportation Options The researchers will measure outcomes related to effectiveness (user independence and safety), feasibility, acceptability, and use of services.

3. research.aota.org research.aota.org/ajot/article/78/1/7801205110/25049/Effectiveness-of-a-Driving-and-Community-Mobility

Effectiveness of a Driving and Community Mobility Intervention ... A 5-day intensive intervention using group and individualized strategies, including driving simulation, focused on improving performance skills needed for DCM.

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12069464/

Outcomes from a Driving and Community Mobility ... Matched questionnaires were completed by novice drivers with autism as well as their parents prior to and immediately after the intervention.

5. sites.temple.edu sites.temple.edu/reachlabtemple/research/

RESEARCH - REACH Collective - Wordpress + Temple The SAFE program provides training in an easily understood format for those with ASD and/or IDD. It focuses on teaching specific behaviors to reduce the risk of ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06323850

Study Details | NCT06323850 | Improving Access to Community- ... Rideshare has the potential to address many of the issues autistic adults have accessing the community. It is faster and more direct than the public train or ...