Abstract

This article describes the development and evaluation of the Keyhole® EarlyIntervention Model for preschoolers with autism spectrum conditions. Itsfour components are a resource kit for newly diagnosed families, a home-basedintervention programme to develop social and communication skills, trainingworkshops for parents and an education module for personnel working in earlyyears services. Research evidence is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness ofeach of the four components. Examples are given of the contributions that healthvisitors and community nurses could make to supporting families in some or all ofthese endeavours.