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Symposia

Autism Spectrum and Developmental Disorders

A neurodiversity-affirmative approach to involving parents and caregivers in assessment of and support for autistic children and young people.

3 - (SYM 10) A Collaborative Approach to Reducing Family Accommodation in Autism

Friday, November 21, 2025
3:32 PM - 3:46 PM CST
Location: Empire C, Level 2
Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorders, CBT, Parenting
Recommended Readings: Cullingham, T., Rennard, U., Creswell, C., Milton, D., Buckle, K. L., Godber, L., ... & Green, J. (2024). The process of co‐design for a new anxiety intervention for autistic children. JCPP Advances, e12255. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12255,   Lebowitz ER, Marin C, Martino A, Shimshoni Y, Silverman WK. Parent-Based Treatment as Efficacious as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety: A Randomized Noninferiority Study of Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2020;59(3):362-372. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2019.02.014,   Rozenblat, S., Shimshoni, Y., Lebowitz, E.R. et al. A Pilot Trial of SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) in Autism. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 56, 249–263 (2025). doi: 10.1007/s10578-023-01555-4,   Wood, J. J., Kendall, P. C., Wood, K. S., Kerns, C. M., Seltzer, M., Small, B. J., ... & Storch, E. A. (2020). Cognitive behavioral treatments for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA psychiatry, 77(5), 474-483. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4160,   Lei, J., Leigh, E., Charman, T., Russell, A., & Hollocks, M. J. (2024). Exploring the association between social camouflaging and self- versus caregiver-report discrepancies in anxiety and depressive symptoms in autistic and non-autistic socially anxious adolescents. Autism, 28(10), 2657-2674. doi: 10.1177/13623613241238251
Abstract Body

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is a parent-based intervention that has shown efficacy in reducing childhood anxiety by targeting parental accommodation. Recent research has extended SPACE to children with autism, with a clinical trial demonstrating promising results in decreasing anxiety symptoms through a parent-focused approach. This talk will present findings from that trial and discuss how the intervention was developed cooperatively with stakeholders—including families, parents, and experts in the autism field—to ensure its relevance and feasibility for neurodivergent children. Beyond anxiety, many parents of autistic children accommodate core autism-related behaviours, including restrictive and repetitive behaviours (RRBs) and sensory sensitivities. While some accommodations support well-being, others may inadvertently reinforce maladaptive patterns. This talk will explore emerging research on parental accommodation of core autism symptoms, examining when reducing accommodation may foster greater adaptive functioning and when it may pose risks. By integrating stakeholder perspectives into intervention design, this work aims to balance the benefits of promoting autonomy with the need for individualized support. The discussion will highlight implications for clinical practice and future research directions, emphasizing the value of collaborative, community-informed approaches.