Study procedures

If a child meets the criteria to participate in the study, there are two initial meetings that will be scheduled prior to the beginning of the study:

(a) The first meeting will take place at MedPark 15. The parent will be asked to complete a series of questionnaires without the child present. At that time, the parent will complete three measures that will help to establish the baseline for the child:

- The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (assesses the child’s behavior and estimate the child’s cognitive age based on the parent’s report of their performance)

(b) During the second meeting (which will take place at the USC Speech and Hearing Research Center), the parent and the child will be introduced to CHARLIE. We will evalu- ate the child using the following two tests:

- Unstructured Imitation Assessment (Version A)

- Motor Imitation Scale: 16-item assessment of motor imitation, especially designed for children with autism (Version A)

- Expressive Vocabulary Test (Second edition) (Form A)

- Completion of the Mean Length of Spontaneous Utterance Determination Experiment procedures

Following the initial evaluations, we will schedule 30-minute sessions, twice a week (semi- weekly) for a total of 6 weeks.

(a) Each session will involve the speech therapist, a graduate student and the robot, CHARLIE.

(b) Introducing the robot to each child and will follow these general guidelines and will incorporate the following therapy goals:

Phase I: The robot will be situated in the room where therapy will take place. For the first few sessions (and at the therapist’s discretion) the robot will be placed in stationary mode to allow the child the opportunity to physically explore the robot and its components before introducing movement.

(1) On arriving and leaving each session, the subject will briefly make eye contact with clinician, CHARLIE and the researcher as part of his/her greeting. The child will be ready for Phase II after the child has been observed to:

(2) Approach CHARLIE (3) Touch CHARLIE (4) Move CHARLIE’s arms

Phase II: The child, with the therapist’s guidance (if required) will be given the oppor- tunity to control the robot’s arms and head with a remote control.

(1) On arriving and leaving each session, the subject will briefly make eye contact with clinician, CHARLIE and the researcher as part of his/her greeting.

(2) During follow directions task, subject will point/operate remote/follow direction in or- der to lead CHARLIE through an activity at least once during the session. We will be ready to approach Phase III after the child has been observed to:

Phase III: The child, with the therapist’s guidance (if required) will be given the op- portunity to play music and practice movement along with the robot. The robot can play If you’re happy and you know it and The wheels on the bus with hand and head movements. (1) On arriving and leaving each session, the subject will briefly make eye contact with clinician, CHARLIE and the researcher as part of his/her greeting.

(2) During follow directions task, subject will point/operate remote/follow direction in or- der to lead CHARLIE through an activity at least once during the session.

(3) During song activity, subject will participate in fingerplays/gestures with CHARLIE for 80% of opportunities.

(4) Once CHARLIE has imitated subject’s movement, subject will continue to move/interact with CHARLIE through X turns (X to be determined from performance on baseline/previous session). The child will be ready to approach Phase IV after the child has been observed to:

(5) Respond to song with appropriate fingerplay/gesture (6) Move in response to CHARLIE’s prompt/action

Phase IV: The child, with the therapist’s guidance (if required) will be given the op- portunity to play imitation games with the robot. One-on-one games include just the child and the robot. The Pass the pose game includes the therapist, the child and the robot. (1) On arriving and leaving each session, the subject will briefly make eye contact with clinician, CHARLIE and the researcher as part of his/her greeting.

(2) During follow directions task, subject will point/operate remote/follow direction in or- der to lead CHARLIE through an activity at least once during the session.

(3) During song activity, subject will participate in fingerplays/gestures with CHARLIE for 80% of opportunities.

(4) Once CHARLIE has imitated subject’s movement, subject will continue to move/interact with CHARLIE through X turns (X to be determined from performance on baseline/previous session).

(5) When offered a choice of activities, subject will clearly make his/her performance known to others in session for 80% of trials.

(6) Throughout the therapy session, subject will cooperate with a turn-taking task with CHARLIE, parent and/or clinician through (2) turns (change this number as client pro- gresses) each. We will be ready to approach Phase V after the child has been observed to: (7) Imitate the robot movements on 80% of trials

(8) Imitate movements with another person in the intervention room

Phase V: The child will be given the opportunity to select from various modes of play with the robot.

(1) On arriving and leaving each session, the subject will briefly make eye contact with clinician, CHARLIE and the researcher as part of his/her greeting.

(2) During follow directions task, subject will point/operate remote/follow direction in or- der to lead CHARLIE through an activity at least once during the session.

(3) During song activity, subject will participate in fingerplays/gestures with CHARLIE for 80% of opportunities.

(4) Once CHARLIE has imitated subject’s movement, subject will continue to move/interact with CHARLIE through X turns (X to be determined from performance on baseline/previous session).

(5) When offered a choice of activities, subject will clearly make his/her performance known to others in session for 80% of trials.

(6) Throughout the therapy session, subject will cooperate with a turn-taking task with CHARLIE, parent and/or clinician through (2) turns (change this number as client pro- gresses) each.

(7) During interactive games and songs with CHARLIE, subject will participate in a struc- tured reciprocal play routine for (2) minutes on (3) occasions (change number as client progresses).

Phase VI: If the child moves smoothly through the previous 5 sessions, then on the 6th session s/he will be given the opportunity to select from various modes of play with the robot and any member of the research staff.

(1) On arriving and leaving each session, the subject will briefly make eye contact with clinician, CHARLIE and the researcher as part of his/her greeting.

(2) During follow directions task, subject will point/operate remote/follow direction in or- der to lead CHARLIE through an activity at least once during the session.

(3) During song activity, subject will participate in fingerplays/gestures with CHARLIE for 80% of opportunities.

(4) Once CHARLIE has imitated subject’s movement, subject will continue to move/interact with CHARLIE through X turns (X to be determined from performance on baseline/previous session).

(5) When offered a choice of activities, subject will clearly make his/her performance known to others in session for 80% of trials.

(6) Throughout the therapy session, subject will cooperate with a turn-taking task with CHARLIE, parent and/or clinician through (2) turns (change this number as client pro- gresses) each.

(7) When presented with communication opportunities by clinician, subject will use ges- tures, vocalizations, or verbalizations for a variety of communicative intents on 80% of opportunities presented.

(8) When subject desires to initiate, change or discontinue activities within the last session, subject will make eye contact with appropriate clinician, the researcher or parent before communicating the message.