Regulating Together for Intellectual Disability: A Group Behavioral Therapy for for Emotion Dysregulation in Autism and Intellectual Disability

The goal of this study is to help children with autism and a co-occurring intellectual disability and their families learn practical strategies for managing issues like irritability, aggression, and other challenging behaviors. The main objective of this study is: To adapt current Regulating Together materials to create an outpatient group program for emotion dysregulation in autism and co-occurring intellectual disability (ASD + ID) that will improve psychosocial outcomes for youth with ASD + ID.

Child Participant Inclusion Criteria: * Males, females, or non-binary youth between 8 and 12 years of age * Confirmed diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) * Confirmed diagnosis of Intellectual Disability * Fluent in spoken English. * Use of flexible phrase speech or greater * Meeting clinically significant emotion dysregulation criteria * Willing to participate in twice weekly 90-minute sessions * Family is willing to keep prescribed psychiatric medication and outside behavioral interventions stable * Parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative (LAR) must provide written permission on behalf of the participant Child Participant Exclusion Criteria: * Initiation of new psychosocial intervention within 30 days prior to first day of treatment * Presence of physical aggression in the child directed towards a peer outside the home (i.e., non-siblings) that resulted in injury within 30 days prior to screening. Other significant disruptive, aggressive, self-injurious, or sexually inappropriate behavior felt to be dangerous or overly disruptive to the group sessions will be reviewed by the study team on an individual basis. * Presence of comorbid major neuropsychiatric illness warranting other treatment approaches * Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss Caregiver Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Lives and cares for their child with ASD+ID for \> 50% of the year * Fluent in spoken English. * Willing to participate in twice weekly 90-minute sessions, including one virtual session weekly Caregiver Exclusion Criteria: -Presence of any major sensory impairment that would limit participating in the material including blindness or uncorrected hearing loss