Addressing intolerance of uncertainty in children with autism spectrum disorder: An intervention feasibility trial Principal Investigator: Jacqui Rodgers Anxiety causes difficulties for around 50% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Top ASD research priority (Autistica/James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership, 2016) Anxiety can be caused by uncertainty, leading to Intolerance of uncertainty (IU). Belief that uncertainty is stressful and upsetting and should be avoided IU has an important role in the development and maintenance of anxiety and is a barrier to effective anxiety treatment. Postural management: Includes standing frames, resting, lying and seating support systems. jacqui.rodgers@ncl.ac.uk

What is Coping with Uncertainty in Everyday Situations (CUES©)? Tackles the mechanism – IU Parent-mediated Group-based Developmentally appropriate Is CUES©: Feasible to deliver through NHS services by trained therapists? Acceptable and well received by families? Does CUES©: Lead to greater reduction in real life IU and anxiety? Postural management: Includes standing frames, resting, lying and seating support systems. jacqui.rodgers@ncl.ac.uk

Understanding and addressing Intolerance of Uncertainty in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring intellectual disability: Adaptation and evaluation of the CUES intervention Principal Investigator: Jessica Maxwell Supervised by: Jacqui Rodgers and Vicki Grahame Intellectual disability is prevalent within autism spectrum disorders (approximately 50%; Matson & Shoemaker, 2009) Approximately 30% of children with ASD and ID show symptoms and difficulties associated with anxiety (Gobrial & Raghavan, 2012) A small body of evidence that IU is also a construct associated with anxiety and repetitive behaviours in children with intellectual disabilities (South, 2017; Glod, 2017) Therefore, the aim of the project is to consider how IU may present in this population, and to adapt and evaluate the parent mediated CUES intervention with this population. Postural management: Includes standing frames, resting, lying and seating support systems. jacqui.rodgers@ncl.ac.uk

Method Current Adaptations Individual consultations with parents Consultation group with professionals Recruit for, run and evaluate the adapted parent group (6 parents) Current Adaptations Inclusion of more relevant scenarios into information and activities Greater emphasis on behavioural/physical than social / cognitive strategies Simplifying / greater scaffolding of home activities Groups of parents with similar abilities appreciated Further feedback and suggestions to be gathered following the group Postural management: Includes standing frames, resting, lying and seating support systems. jacqui.rodgers@ncl.ac.uk