# The DATA Model for Teaching Preschoolers with Autism

##### Tool name
The DATA Model for Teaching Preschoolers with Autism

##### Purpose
Assess and provide intervention for children with autism in 6 key domains: Adaptive, Executive Functioning, Cognitive, Communication, Social, and Play

##### Age range
3–5 years

##### Used by
Early interventionists, early childhood educators and special educators, paraprofessionals, applied behavior analysts

##### Time commitment
The DATA Model is implemented on an ongoing basis during the school year. Children in the DATA Model spend 20 hours a week in school-based educational setting. They spend a minimum of ten hours a week in an inclusive preschool setting and ten hours a week in an intensive, instructional setting.

## Blending Approaches to Meet Individual Needs
How can you help preschoolers with autism thrive in inclusive classrooms?

Support their success with this comprehensive, school-based program for children ages 3 to 5 with autism spectrum disorder. Blending best practices from applied behavior analysis and early childhood special education, **The DATA Model** is a proven program rooted in evidence-based practice and based on 20 years of testing and refinement. The DATA Model includes a Skills Checklist to determine functional needs and goals and monitor ongoing progress and more than 140 instructional programming sheets and lesson plans to increase children’s developmental progress.

### Benefits
The DATA Model helps you:
- create a developmentally appropriate **learning environment**  
- write clear, step-by-step **instructional programs** and lesson plans for every **learning goal**  
- select and deliver **instructional strategies** that fit the unique needs of each specific child  
- choose and use **effective instructional** tools such as discrete trials, naturalistic instruction, shaping, and chaining  
- address **challenging behavior** while increasing children’s ability to communicate their needs  
- **collaborate with families and the community** to meet the needs of each child

### Developers
- [Ilene S. Schwartz Ph.D., BCBA-D](http://products.brookespublishing.com/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=1115&Name=Ilene+S.+Schwartz+Ph.D.%2c+BCBA-D)  
- [Julie Ashmun M.Ed., BCBA](http://products.brookespublishing.com/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=86869&Name=Julie+Ashmun+M.Ed.%2c+BCBA)  
- [Bonnie McBride Ph.D., BCBA-D](http://products.brookespublishing.com/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=86871&Name=Bonnie+McBride+Ph.D.%2c+BCBA-D)  
- [Crista Scott M.Ed., BCBA](http://products.brookespublishing.com/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=86868&Name=Crista+Scott+M.Ed.%2c+BCBA)  
- [Susan R. Sandall Ph.D.](http://products.brookespublishing.com/cw_contributorinfo.aspx?ContribID=2098&Name=Susan+R.+Sandall+Ph.D.)

## What You'll Need

### The DATA Model for Teaching Preschoolers with Autism
[View in Store](http://products.brookespublishing.com/The-DATA-Model-for-Teaching-Preschoolers-with-Autism-P992.aspx)

#### Includes
Manual with photocopiable DATA Model Skills Checklist and 140+ instructional programming sheets and lesson plans

### [The DATA Model Skills Checklist](http://products.brookespublishing.com/The-DATA-Model-Skills-Checklist-P993.aspx)
[View In Store](http://products.brookespublishing.com/The-DATA-Model-Skills-Checklist-P993.aspx)

### [Project DATA instructional programs: mealtime](/content/resource-library/project-data-instructional-programs-mealtime/index.html)
Read the excerpt and see a DATA sample instructional program for mealtime. DATA instructional programs have three main components: a behavioral objective, a mastery criterion, and a task analysis or…

### See a crosswalk of the DATA Model Skills Checklist and AEPS®
[View Resource](http://archive.brookespublishing.com/documents/schwartz-the-DATA-model-for-teaching-preschoolers-Appendix-B.pdf)
Educators and applied behavior analysts can implement this model with the information provided in the manual. Additional training is available from the authors.