Remote Educational Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Lessons Learnt from COVID-19 Pandemic in India

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Backgrounds and Aims. </strong>The coronavirus leads to a contagious disease that triggers severe acute respiratory symptoms. It was initially detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and has since led to a global pandemic. In India, the first case was reported in Kerala in January 2020. The pandemic resulted is sudden closure of intervention centres for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) across India resulting in change in rehabilitation measures for them. A brief survey was used to identify challenges faced by rehabilitation workers in tele-rehabilitation with children with autism spectrum disorder.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods. </strong>Responses of Rehabilitation workers (n=44) engaged with tele-rehabilitation of children with ASD were collected using online survey using Google forms<strong>. </strong>Both open and closed ended questionnaires were used to elicit response. We conducted organized interviews with special educators. Online tools were used to record responses of special educators in providing tele-rehabilitation services.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Results and Discussion</strong>. Behavioural issues, Information Technology, parental approach as well as the home environment were identified as some of the major challenges encountered in online interventions with children with ASD. Rehabilitation professionals faced a range of challenges in continuing and maintaining online intervention to children with ASD most of which included behaviour problems in children with ASD, parental attitude and home environment. In general, online interventions proved effective for tele-rehabilitation during COVID-19, supporting children with autism, though reasons for their success need further study.</p>