Living with Autism

 

Young Children

 

Getting the diagnosis of Autism for your child can be a very difficult period. Perhaps the most important step after the diagnosis is to begin therapy as soon as possible. For children under the age of three, this means beginning Early Intervention.

 

Each child with autism is different, so finding the right therapy for your child might require a period of trial and error. The Autism Society of America supports "an individualized approach [to therapy] that addresses the core deficits of autism spectrum disorders (e.g., communication, social, sensory, academic difficulties) and that matches each family's preferences and needs." Also noted by the ASA, "In designing effective programs, the ASA encourages professionals and family members to consider the following components:

 

A curriculum that addresses deficit areas, focuses on long-term outcomes, and considers the developmental level of each child. Deficit areas include:

Inability to attend to relevant aspects of the environment, shift attention, and imitate the language and actions of others.

Difficulty in social interactions, including appropriate play with toys and others, and symbolic and imaginative play

Difficulty with language comprehension and use, and functional communication

Programs that capitalize on children's natural tendency to respond to visual structure, routines, schedules, and predictability.

A focus on generalization and maintenance of skills, using technology such as incidental teaching approaches.

Effective and systematic instructional approaches that utilize technology associated with Applied Behavior Analysis, including chaining, shaping, discrete trial format and others.

Coordinated transitions between service delivery agencies, including 0-2 programs, early intervention/preschool programs, and kindergarten environments.

Use of technology associated with functional behavioral assessment and positive behavioral supports with a child who presents behavioral challenges.

Family involvement, including coordination between home and involved professionals; an in-home training component; and family training and support.

The ASA encourages applied research to determine those interventions and approaches that are most effective for all children with autism spectrum disorders, and to encourage common usage of these practices for each child with an autism spectrum disorder, regardless of geographical location.*

 

*From www.autism-society.com

Welcome | What is Autism | Living with Autism | Resources | About Camille | Press | Stories | Donations | Photo Gallery | Contact Info

© The George A. Butchikas Foundation for Autism | All Rights Reserved