The Department of Disability Studies has conducted several research studies related to autism, focusing on understanding developmental profiles, interventions, and support strategies to improve the quality of life and inclusion of individuals with autism.

A short report on a preliminary interventional study to evaluate play-mediated interaction skills in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder from Sri Lanka. 

This study explored the impact of a play-based parent coaching programme for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) aged 2–4 years in Sri Lanka. The programme focused on strengthening parents’ interaction skills to support their child’s social-emotional, cognitive, and language development. Parents were trained to engage in structured play with their children and were assessed before and after the intervention using video-recorded play sessions. Findings showed significant improvements in parents’ interaction skills, particularly in promoting social-emotional development, along with high parental satisfaction. The results highlight the potential of parent-mediated, culturally appropriate interventions in low- and middle-income settings.

Link to publication: A short report on a preliminary interventional study to evaluate play-mediated interaction skills in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder from Sri Lanka - PubMed 

Investigators: Ms. Pamoda Wanniachchi, Prof. Samanmali P Sumanasena