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   Contents
Close Menu 1.0 Introduction
    1.1 Interactive
    1.2 Integration
    1.3 Daily Life Therapy
    1.4 Behavioural
    1.5 Eclectic
Open Menu 2.0 Checklists
Open Menu 3.0 Son-Rise
Open Menu 4.0 TEACCH
Open Menu 5.0 Higashi
Open Menu 6.0 Lovaas
Open Menu 7.0 Eclectic
  WAYS OF HELPING

1.0 Introduction

There are various forms of therapy, intervention and education programmes available to the individual with autism. We will group them into the following areas:

  • Interactive;
  • Integration;
  • Daily Life Therapy;
  • Behavioural;
  • Eclectic; and
  • Additional.

1.1 Interactive

These approaches emphasise the importance of developing a relationship and communication between the child and parents and/or staff. Well known examples include the Option Institute's - Son-Rise Programme where a home-based, child-centred system is used. Parents are trained and then set up and manage the programme at home. The child is not judged and their behaviours are not seen as good or bad, rather the child is seen to be doing the best he/she can.

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1.2 Integration

Integration approaches seek to enable people with autism to live as members of the community. The most common example is that of TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children), pioneered by the University of North Carolina, US.

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1.3 Daily Life Therapy

Daily Life Therapy has its origins in Japan, and is a totally integrated 24-hour curriculum comprising a concentration on daily living skills, physical education, music and craft. The Japanese culture of group performance and identification within the group is the main philosophy.

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1.4 Behavioural

Behavioural approaches have been used in special education for some years. The ability to train specific behaviours has a track record of success although critics claim that the skills learned produce dependence and a failure to generalise the skill. Behavioral approaches (sometimes called Applied Behaviour Analysis or ABA) start very early (ideally before 42 months of age) and some researchers claim considerable success.

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1.5 Eclectic

In many cases, there is no research evidence to support the claims of individual interventions or therapies. The approach that certain groups take is to encourage parents and professionals to investigate thoroughly all approaches available in order to determine which might be appropriate for any one individual based on his/her needs. Thus an eclectic approach, developed within a structured environment, allows appropriate intervention or therapy to be tailored to the individual rather that fitting the individual into a specific mould. Eclectic approached might include interventions as listed above or AIT, mineral and dietary supplements, music therapy, intensive interaction, musical interaction and PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System).

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