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Alternative to ABA Therapy: A Comprehensive Analysis
Author: Dr. Eleanor Vance, PhD, BCBA-D, Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Eleanor Vance holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctoral (BCBA-D). She has over 20 years of experience working with autistic individuals and their families, including extensive research into alternative and complementary therapies. Her clinical practice focuses on person-centered approaches and she is a strong advocate for exploring diverse therapeutic modalities.
Publisher: The Journal of Inclusive Practices in Autism
The Journal of Inclusive Practices in Autism is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Sage Publications. Sage is a reputable publisher with a long history of publishing high-quality research in the social sciences, including extensive publications on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related therapies. Their authority on this topic is well-established within the academic and professional communities.
Editor: Dr. Samuel Reyes, PhD, Professor of Special Education, University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Reyes is a leading expert in special education and has published extensively on inclusive practices and evidence-based interventions for individuals with autism. His editorial oversight ensures the article's rigor and relevance within the field.
1. The Historical Context of ABA Therapy and the Rise of Alternatives
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has been the dominant therapy for autism for several decades. Its effectiveness in improving specific behaviors has been documented in numerous studies. However, concerns regarding its intensity, potential for negative side effects (such as anxiety and trauma), and the philosophical underpinnings of its approach have led to increasing interest in exploring alternatives to ABA therapy.
The historical context is crucial. Early approaches to autism focused on institutionalization and limited interaction. ABA emerged as a more structured and behaviorally focused intervention, offering a significant improvement over previous methods. Yet, its inherent focus on shaping behavior through reinforcement and punishment prompted critiques from those advocating for more holistic and child-centered models. The rise of the neurodiversity movement further fueled the search for alternatives to ABA therapy that prioritize self-determination and acceptance of autistic characteristics.
2. Criticisms of ABA Therapy and the Rationale for Seeking Alternatives
Several criticisms have emerged against traditional, intensive ABA therapy:
Ethical Concerns: Critics argue that some applications of ABA can be coercive, focusing on suppressing autistic traits rather than fostering self-expression and acceptance. The potential for causing psychological distress is a significant ethical concern.
Lack of Person-Centered Approach: Traditional ABA can be rigid and fail to account for individual differences and preferences. The emphasis on changing behavior, rather than understanding and supporting the autistic individual, is often viewed negatively.
Intensive Nature: The high intensity of some ABA programs can be overwhelming and stressful for both the child and the family, impacting the overall quality of life.
Limited Generalization: Skills learned in ABA sessions may not always translate to real-world settings, limiting their long-term impact.
Focus on Deficits: Traditional ABA often focuses on "fixing" what it perceives as deficits, ignoring strengths and unique abilities.
These criticisms have propelled the search for alternatives to ABA therapy that are more ethical, inclusive, and child-centered.
3. Exploring Alternative Approaches to Autism Intervention
Many alternatives to ABA therapy exist, each with its own strengths and limitations. These include:
Floortime/Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) Model: This approach focuses on building relationships and fostering communication through play and shared experiences. It prioritizes following the child's lead and understanding their unique communication style.
Relationship-Based Intervention (RBI): Similar to DIR, RBI emphasizes the importance of a strong therapeutic relationship and aims to promote spontaneous communication and social interaction.
Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT): This approach addresses sensory processing challenges experienced by many autistic individuals through specific sensory activities designed to improve regulation and self-organization.
Speech and Language Therapy: This focuses on developing communication skills tailored to the individual’s needs, using methods that are communicative and engaging.
Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy assists autistic individuals in developing adaptive life skills, improving motor skills, and addressing sensory challenges.
Social Skills Groups: These groups provide opportunities for autistic individuals to practice social interaction skills in a supportive and structured environment.
Each of these alternatives to ABA therapy offers a different approach to supporting autistic individuals, placing a greater emphasis on inclusion, acceptance, and fostering their strengths.
4. Evidence-Based Practices and the Future of Autism Intervention
While some alternatives to ABA therapy lack the extensive research base of ABA, growing evidence supports the effectiveness of many approaches. The field is shifting towards a more inclusive model that integrates various interventions tailored to the individual's needs and preferences. Future research should focus on comparing the efficacy of different methods, understanding the long-term outcomes, and identifying which interventions are best suited for specific individuals based on their unique strengths, challenges, and preferences.
5. The Importance of Person-Centered Planning and Collaboration
The search for the best alternative to ABA therapy or the optimal therapeutic approach necessitates person-centered planning. Collaboration between the autistic individual, their family, therapists, and educators is vital. Individualized treatment plans should focus on achieving meaningful goals aligned with the person's aspirations and preferences. By prioritizing self-determination and collaboration, we can create truly effective and ethically sound interventions.
Conclusion
The landscape of autism intervention is evolving rapidly. While ABA remains a prevalent method, the increasing awareness of ethical concerns and the need for person-centered care have fueled the exploration of various alternatives to ABA therapy. The future of autism intervention likely involves a more integrated and individualized approach, incorporating various evidence-based methods tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each autistic individual. Collaboration, respect for neurodiversity, and a focus on strengths are paramount in creating positive outcomes for individuals on the autism spectrum.
FAQs
1. Is ABA therapy completely ineffective? No, ABA therapy has demonstrated effectiveness in improving specific behaviors in some individuals. However, concerns about its ethical implications and potential negative impact have prompted the search for alternatives.
2. What are the potential risks of ABA therapy? Potential risks include anxiety, trauma, and a lack of focus on person-centered care. The intensity and rigidity of some ABA programs can also be detrimental.
3. Which alternative to ABA therapy is best for my child? There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best approach depends on your child's unique needs, strengths, and preferences. Collaboration with professionals is crucial to developing an individualized plan.
4. Are alternative therapies as evidence-based as ABA? The evidence base for some alternatives is less extensive than for ABA, but research is ongoing, and evidence is growing for many promising approaches.
5. How can I find a therapist who supports alternatives to ABA? Seek out therapists specializing in DIR, RBI, or other person-centered approaches. Professional organizations and online resources can assist in finding qualified professionals.
6. What is the role of the family in choosing an alternative to ABA? Families play a crucial role in decision-making and are essential collaborators in the therapeutic process. Their input is invaluable in developing a person-centered plan.
7. How can I ensure my child's individual needs are met? Through thorough assessments, collaborative planning with professionals, and continuous monitoring of the intervention's effectiveness. Regular adjustments to the plan are essential.
8. Are there financial considerations when choosing alternative therapies? The cost of various therapies varies. Insurance coverage can differ depending on the specific therapy and provider. Explore options for financial assistance if needed.
9. How can I advocate for inclusive practices in my child's education and therapy? Educate yourself on the available options, actively participate in IEP/IFSP meetings, and collaborate with educators and therapists to create an individualized plan that promotes your child’s strengths and well-being.
Related Articles:
1. "The DIRFloortime Model: A Relationship-Based Approach to Autism": Explores the principles and practices of the DIRFloortime model, highlighting its emphasis on building relationships and fostering communication.
2. "Relationship-Based Intervention (RBI) for Children with Autism": Provides an overview of RBI, emphasizing its focus on fostering positive relationships and promoting social communication.
3. "Sensory Integration Therapy and Autism: A Comprehensive Review": Details the benefits and applications of SIT in addressing sensory processing challenges in autistic individuals.
4. "Speech Therapy for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder": Explains various speech therapy techniques tailored to the communication needs of autistic individuals.
5. "Occupational Therapy for Autism: Promoting Adaptive Skills and Independence": Highlights the role of occupational therapy in developing adaptive skills and addressing sensory challenges.
6. "Social Skills Groups for Autistic Adults: Fostering Social Connection and Inclusion": Focuses on the benefits of social skills groups for autistic adults and describes effective group facilitation strategies.
7. "Beyond ABA: Exploring Ethical Considerations in Autism Intervention": Examines ethical concerns surrounding various autism interventions, including ABA and its alternatives.
8. "Person-Centered Planning for Autistic Individuals: A Guide for Families and Professionals": Provides practical guidance on creating person-centered plans for autistic individuals, emphasizing collaboration and self-determination.
9. "A Comparative Analysis of ABA and DIRFloortime: Similarities and Differences": Compares and contrasts ABA and DIRFloortime, highlighting their respective strengths and limitations.
| alternative to aba therapy: Thinking Person's Guide to Autism Jennifer Byde Myers, Shannon Des Roches Rosa, Liz Ditz, Emily Willingham, 2011 Thinking Person's Guide to Autism (TPGA) is the resource we wish we'd had when autism first became part of our lives: a one-stop source for carefully curated, evidence-based information from autistics, autism parents, and autism professionals. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Sense and Nonsense in the Behavioral Treatment of Autism Ronald Burton Leaf, Mitchell T. Taubman, John McEachin, 2008 The Case for Applied Behavior Analysis Versus Other Autism Interventions |
| alternative to aba therapy: Communication Alternatives in Autism Edlyn Vallejo Peña, 2019-09-20 Ten autistic self-advocates share their experiences with alternative forms of communication such as rapid prompting method (RPM) and facilitated communication (FC), both highly controversial. Their narratives document the complexities that autistic individuals navigate--in both educational and community settings--when choosing to use approaches that utilize letter boards and keyboards. While the controversies remain--RPM requires further scientific study, and FC is subject to criticism about confirmation bias--these individuals share powerful stories in the context of aiming for disability rights. The book concludes with a chapter about best practices for educators, particularly for schools and colleges that have students who use these communication methods. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Diagnosis and Treatment of Autism C. Gillberg, 2014-01-15 |
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| alternative to aba therapy: Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Richard M. Foxx, James A. Mulick, 2015-10-14 One of the largest and most complex human services systems in history has evolved to address the needs of people with autism and intellectual disabilities, yet important questions remain for many professionals, administrators, and parents. What approaches to early intervention, education, treatment, therapy, and remediation really help those with autism and other intellectual disabilities improve their functioning and adaptation? Alternatively, what approaches represent wastes of time, effort, and resources? Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, 2nd Edition brings together leading behavioral scientists and practitioners to shed much-needed light on the major controversies surrounding these questions. Expert authors review the origins, perpetuation, and resistance to scrutiny of questionable practices, and offer a clear rationale for appraising the quality of various services. The second edition of Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities has been fully revised and updated and includes entirely new chapters on psychology fads, why applied behavioral analysis is not a fad, rapid prompting, relationship therapies, the gluten-free, casein-free diet, evidence based practices, state government regulation of behavioral treatment, teaching ethics, and a parents’ primer for autism treatments. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Handbook of Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder Johnny L. Matson, 2017-10-03 This handbook provides a comprehensive review of the numerous factors associated with treatments for children, youth, and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It offers in-depth analysis of evidence-based treatments for young children, providing coverage on interventions within social skills training, school curricula, communication and speech training, and augmentative communication. It also covers treatments for adolescents and adults, including vocational programs, social integration programs, and mental health resources. Chapters also review several popular interventions such as functional behavior analysis, sensory integration therapy, early intensive behavioral interventions (EIBI), and floor time. In addition, the Handbook discusses standards of practice, focusing on ethical issues, review boards, training concerns, and informed consent. Topics featured in the Handbook include: Training for parents of individuals diagnosed with ASD. Treatment of socially reinforced problem behavior. Comorbid challenging behaviors. Post-secondary education supports and programs for adults. The TEACCH Program for people with ASD. Treatment of addiction in adults with ASD. Diet and nutrition based treatments targeted at children with ASD. The Handbook of Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder is a must-have reference for researchers, clinicians/professionals, and graduate students in clinical child, school, and developmental psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, and social work as well as rehabilitation medicine/therapy, behavioral therapy, pediatrics, and educational psychology. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities Richard M. Foxx, James A. Mulick, 2015-10-14 One of the largest and most complex human services systems in history has evolved to address the needs of people with autism and intellectual disabilities, yet important questions remain for many professionals, administrators, and parents. What approaches to early intervention, education, treatment, therapy, and remediation really help those with autism and other intellectual disabilities improve their functioning and adaptation? Alternatively, what approaches represent wastes of time, effort, and resources? Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities, 2nd Edition brings together leading behavioral scientists and practitioners to shed much-needed light on the major controversies surrounding these questions. Expert authors review the origins, perpetuation, and resistance to scrutiny of questionable practices, and offer a clear rationale for appraising the quality of various services. The second edition of Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities has been fully revised and updated and includes entirely new chapters on psychology fads, why applied behavioral analysis is not a fad, rapid prompting, relationship therapies, the gluten-free, casein-free diet, evidence based practices, state government regulation of behavioral treatment, teaching ethics, and a parents’ primer for autism treatments. |
| alternative to aba therapy: LEGO®-Based Therapy Simon Baron-Cohen, Georgina Gomez De La Cuesta, Daniel B. LeGoff, GW Krauss, 2014-06-21 This complete guide to LEGO® Therapy contains everything you need to know in order to set up and run a LEGO® Club for children with autism spectrum disorders or related social communication difficulties and anxiety conditions. By providing a joint interest and goal, LEGO® building can become a medium for social development such as sharing, turn-taking, making eye-contact, and following social rules. This book outlines the theory and research base of the approach and gives advice on all practical considerations including space, the physical layout of the room and choosing and maintaining materials, as well as strategies for managing behaviour, further skill development, and how to assess progress. Written by the pioneer of the approach alongside those who helped form it through their research and evaluation, this evidence-based manual is essential reading for professionals working with autism who are interested in running a LEGO® Club or learning more about the therapy. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders Fred R. Volkmar, 2016 |
| alternative to aba therapy: Verbal Behavior Burrhus Frederic Skinner, 1957 |
| alternative to aba therapy: Love and Survival Dean Ornish, 2011-11-15 The Medical Basis for the Healing Power of Intimacy We all know that intimacy improves the quality of our lives. Yet most people don't realize how much it can increase the quality of our lives -- our survival. In this New York Timesworld-renowned physician Dean Ornish, M.D., writes, I am not aware of any other factor in medicine that has a greater impact on our survival than the healing power of love and intimacy. Not diet, not smoking, not exercise, not stress, not genetics, not drugs, not surgery. He reveals that the real epidemic in modern culture is not only physical heart disease but also what he calls spiritual heart disease: loneliness, isolation, alienation, and depression. He shows how the very defenses that we think protect us from emotional pain are often the same ones that actually heighten our pain and threaten our survival. Dr. Ornish outlines eight pathways to intimacy and healing that have made a profound difference in his life and in the life of millions of others in turning sadness into happiness, suffering into joy. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Engaging Autism Stanley I. Greenspan, Serena Wieder, 2007-04-03 An essential guide to the highly recommended Floortime approach for treating children with any of the autism spectrum disorders (ASD). From the renowned child psychiatrist who developed the groundbreaking Floortime approach for children with autism spectrum disorder, Engaging Autism is a clear, compassionate road-map for parents. Unlike approaches that focus on changing specific behavior, Dr. Greenspan's program promotes the building blocks of healthy emotional and behavioral development, showing that children with ASD do not have a fixed, limited potential, and may often join their peers to lead full, healthy lives. With practical advice for every scenario you may face with your autistic child at any age -- including sensory craving, overactivity, avoidant behavior, eating, toilet training, developing social skills and more -- Engaging Autism offers hope for families and redefines how we see children with ASD. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Autism Breakthrough Raun K. Kaufman, 2014-04-01 As a boy, Raun Kaufman was diagnosed by multiple experts as severely autistic, with an IQ below 30, and destined to spend his life in an institution. Years later, Raun graduated with a degree in Biomedical Ethics from Brown University and has become a passionate and articulate autism expert and educator with no trace of his former condition. So what happened? Thanks to The Son-Rise Program, a revolutionary method created by his parents, Raun experienced a full recovery from autism. (His story was recounted in the best-selling book Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues and in the award-winning NBC television movie Son-Rise: A Miracle of Love.) In Autism Breakthrough, Raun presents the ground-breaking principles behind the program that helped him and thousands of other families with special children. Autism, he explains, is frequently misunderstood as a behavioral disorder when, in fact, it is a social relational disorder. Raun explains what it feels like to be autistic and shows how and why The Son-Rise Program works. A step-by-step guide with clear, practical strategies that readers can apply immediately—in some cases, parents see changes in their children in as little as one day—Autism Breakthrough makes it possible for these special children to defy their original often-very-limited prognoses. Parents and educators learn how to enable their children to create meaningful, caring relationships, vastly expand their communications, and to participate successfully in the world. An important work of hope, science, and progress, Autism Breakthrough presents the powerful ideas and practical applications that have already changed the lives of families all over the world. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Stealth Adapted Viruses; Alternative Cellular Energy (Ace) & Kelea Activated Water W. John Martin MD PhD., 2014-06-09 This book is intended to help mankind realize the many medical and agricultural benefits of enhancing the alternative cellular energy (ACE) pathway. The research stemmed from the discovery of stealth adapted viruses, which bypass cellular immunity. Stealth adapted viruses were implicated in mental illnesses over 20 years ago. The concept evoked political resistance because some stealth adapted viruses unequivocally arose as contaminants of polio vaccines and likely led to the formation of HIV, the AIDS virus. The ACE pathway is distinct from the immune system. It also fundamentally differs from cellular energy obtained from food calories. Rather the ACE pathway is an expression of a kinetic energy limiting electrostatic attraction or KELEA. The physics of KELEA needs to be actively pursued. The book consists of six-academic-style chapters followed by narratives regarding political barriers and specific disease entities. Patients support groups and other organizations will be assisted in conducting their own clinical validation studies. Let the work begin! |
| alternative to aba therapy: Turn Autism Around Mary Lynch Barbera, Ph.D., 2022-03-29 Help remediate—and in some cases eliminate—autism and other developmental delays in young children, even in as little as 15 minutes a day with this toolkit of behavioral practices that can be taught at home. Developmental delays and signs of autism usually show up before 18 months of age, yet children are often not diagnosed until they are 4 or 5 years old. In Turn Autism Around, Dr. Mary Barbera explains why parents can't afford to worry and wait in long lines for evaluations and treatment while not knowing how to help their children. She empowers parents, caregivers, and early intervention professionals to regain hope and take back control with simple strategies to dramatically improve outcomes for their children. Dr. Barbera has created a new approach to teaching kids with developmental delays that uses the science of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) married with a positive, child-friendly methodology that any parent can use—whether or not their child has delays—to learn to teach communication skills, socialization strategies, as well as tackle sleep, eating, potty training, and behavior challenges in a positive, effective, and lasting way. Turn Autism Around is the first book of its kind that calls attention to an important fact: parents can make a tremendous impact on their child's development through behavioral practices taught at home, even in as little as 15 minutes a day. Her program shows these autism and developmental delays can be remediated, and in some cases, delays can be caught up altogether, if parents intervene while the child is young. This book is for parents of young children aged one-to-five years who are passionate about helping their child as well as learning how they can change the trajectory of their child's and family's life. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Clinical Manual for the Treatment of Autism Eric Hollander, Evdokia Anagnostou, 2007 Explaining how to diagnose autism by providing examples and guidelines for evaluation and testing of individuals, this guide helps practitioners to evaluate the appropriate role of various medications for specific target symptoms and individuals. It also describes complementary and alternative therapies and explores promising new avenues of treatment. |
| alternative to aba therapy: The Complete Guide to Autism Treatments Sabrina Karen Freeman, 2007 The Complete Guide to Austin Treatments was inspired by parents of children afflicted with autism. After speaking with several thousands of parents about various treatments and answering similar questions over and over again, Dr. Freeman realized that parents need a clear way - a guide - to help make appropriate treatment decisions for their child. To this end, Dr. Freeman gives her scientific evaluation of most of the major and minor autism treatments available today, and then personalizes the analysis by telling the reader whether or not she would use the treatment on her own child. In other words, at the end of the day, how did she apply her understanding of the science to her own child? With this book, it is Dr. Freeman's sincere hope that everyone will be able to evaluate all the current and future autism treatments available. It is crucial to be able to ask the right questions and find the flaws in the science behind every purported treatment, or to find the evidence, where it exists, that the treatment is effective. At a minimum, understanding the scientific method will protect thousands of children from quackery and, hopefully, provide parents and professionals with the tools to discern those treatments that are effective for children affected with autism. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Applied Behaviour Analysis and Autism Michael Keenan, 2006 This practical book gives detailed guidance on how to develop a tailored Applied Behavioural Analysis programme that includes the key features of ABA: detailed individual behaviour assessment, reinforcement strategies to encourage new behaviours and systematic programme implementation. |
| alternative to aba therapy: The Verbal Behavior Approach Mary Lynch Barbera, 2007-05-15 The Verbal Behavior (VB) approach is a form of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), that is based on B.F. Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior and works particularly well with children with minimal or no speech abilities. In this book Dr. Mary Lynch Barbera draws on her own experiences as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and also as a parent of a child with autism to explain VB and how to use it. This step-by-step guide provides an abundance of information about how to help children develop better language and speaking skills, and also explains how to teach non-vocal children to use sign language. An entire chapter focuses on ways to reduce problem behavior, and there is also useful information on teaching toileting and other important self-help skills, that would benefit any child. This book will enable parents and professionals unfamiliar with the principles of ABA and VB to get started immediately using the Verbal Behavior approach to teach children with autism and related disorders. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating Katja Rowell, Jenny McGlothlin, 2015-05-01 In Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating, a family doctor specializing in childhood feeding joins forces with a speech pathologist to help you support your child’s nutrition, healthy growth, and end meal-time anxiety (for your child and you) once and for all. Are you parenting a child with ‘extreme’ picky eating? Do you worry your child isn’t getting the nutrition he or she needs? Are you tired of fighting over food, suspect that what you’ve tried may be making things worse, but don’t know how to help? Having a child with ‘extreme’ picky eating is frustrating and sometimes scary. Children with feeding disorders, food aversions, or selective eating often experience anxiety around food, and the power struggles can negatively impact your relationship with your child. Children with extreme picky eating can also miss out on parties or camp because they can’t find “safe” foods. But you don’t have to choose between fighting over every bite and only serving a handful of safe foods for years on end. Helping Your Child with Extreme Picky Eating offers hope, even if your child has “failed” feeding therapies before. After gaining a foundation of understanding of your child’s challenges and the dynamics at play, you’ll be ready for the 5 steps (built around the clinically proven STEPS+ approach—Supportive Treatment of Eating in PartnershipS) that transform feeding and meals so your child can learn to enjoy a variety of foods in the right amounts for healthy growth. You’ll discover specific strategies for dealing with anxiety, low appetite, sensory challenges, autism spectrum-related feeding issues, oral motor delay, and medically-based feeding problems. Tips and exercises reinforce what you’ve learned, and dozens of “scripts” help you respond to your child in the heat of the moment, as well as to others in your child’s life (grandparents or your child’s teacher) as you help them support your family on this journey. This book will prove an invaluable guide to restore peace to your dinner table and help you raise a healthy eater. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Welcome to the Autistic Community Autistic Self Advocacy Network, 2020-04-21 This book is about what it means to be a part of the autistic community. Autistic people wrote this book. Some autistic people are just learning about their autism. We wanted to welcome them and give them a lot of important information all in one place. This book talks about what autism is and how it affects our lives. It talks about our history, our community, and our rights. We wrote this book in plain language so that more people can understand it. We wrote this book for autistic people, but anyone can read it. If you are not autistic, this book can help you support autistic people you know. If you are wondering whether you might be autistic, this book can help you learn more. If you are autistic, think you might be autistic, or if you want to better understand autistic people, this book is for you. Welcome to the autistic community |
| alternative to aba therapy: Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities John W. Jacobson, Richard M. Foxx, James A. Mulick, 2005-01-15 What approaches to early intervention, education, therapy, and remediation really help those with mental retardation and developmental disabilities improve their functioning and adaptation? This book brings together leading behavioral scientists and practitioners to focus light on the major controversies surrounding such questions. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Clinical Assessment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders Johnny L. Matson, 2011-09-02 Autism spectrum disorder has received increasing research in recent years, with more information on assessment and treatment than can be readily assimilated from primary literature by clinicians. Clinical Assessment and Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders summarizes evidence-based assessments and intervention for Autism across the life-span, providing clinicians with a practical overview of how best to assess and treat this disorder. The book begins with a discussion of what warrants a determination of being evidence based and a description of the disorder from a life span perspective. The book also provides a chapter on differential diagnosis of autism relative to other disorders. What follows are separate sections on assessment and intervention. These chapters discuss first how to assess and then separately how to treat behavioral problems, communication and social skills issues, academic and vocational skills, and the use of pharmacology and an assessment of possible pharmacological effects. Intended for practitioners assessing and treating children with developmental delays, the book provides clinicians with best practices for assessing and treating delays associated with autism. - Covers the full range of Autism Spectrum Disorders - Covers the lifespan - Focuses on evidence-based assessment and treatment |
| alternative to aba therapy: Interventions for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Complex Communication Needs Jennifer B. Ganz, Richard L. Simpson, 2018-09 This eighth volume in the AAC series brings together the disciplines of AAC and ABA, both of which are needed to address the challenges of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and complex communication needs. |
| alternative to aba therapy: The TEACCH Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders Gary B. Mesibov, Victoria Shea, Eric Schopler, 2010-02-23 - Professionals can be trained in the program and its methods - Translates scientific knowledge so that practitioners and parents can easily understand the current state of knowledge - Offers strategies that can be tailored to an individual's unique developmental and functional level - Advises parents on how to become involved in all phases of intervention as collaborators, co-therapists, and advocates. - Details how the program can be introduced and adapted for individuals of all ages, from preschooler to adult |
| alternative to aba therapy: Neurotribes Steve Silberman, 2016-08-23 This New York Times–bestselling book upends conventional thinking about autism and suggests a broader model for acceptance, understanding, and full participation in society for people who think differently. What is autism? A lifelong disability, or a naturally occurring form of cognitive difference akin to certain forms of genius? In truth, it is all of these things and more—and the future of our society depends on our understanding it. Wired reporter Steve Silberman unearths the secret history of autism, long suppressed by the same clinicians who became famous for discovering it, and finds surprising answers to the crucial question of why the number of diagnoses has soared in recent years. Going back to the earliest days of autism research, Silberman offers a gripping narrative of Leo Kanner and Hans Asperger, the research pioneers who defined the scope of autism in profoundly different ways; he then goes on to explore the game-changing concept of neurodiversity. NeuroTribes considers the idea that neurological differences such as autism, dyslexia, and ADHD are not errors of nature or products of the toxic modern world, but the result of natural variations in the human genome. This groundbreaking book will reshape our understanding of the history, meaning, function, and implications of neurodiversity in our world. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder Yvonne Bruinsma, Dr Mendy Minjarez, PH D, Laura Schreibman, Dr Aubyn Stahmer, PH D, 2020 This book is the first to offer a comprehensive overview of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI), which are evidence-based interventions that integrate both behavioral and developmental approaches in the treatment of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. |
| alternative to aba therapy: The Nine Degrees of Autism Philip Wylie, Wenn Lawson, Luke Beardon, 2015-10-12 The Nine Degrees of Autism presents a much-needed positive tool for understanding the developmental process of autism, and to facilitate the improved mental health and well-being of individuals on the spectrum. The ground-breaking model charts nine distinct stages of development - from pre-identification, to learning to live with changes in self-image following a late diagnosis, through to self-acceptance and wellbeing. Using the model as a framework each chapter focuses on a particular stage of the process. Experts provide personal insights into the environmental and societal challenges faced by individuals with autism, and dispel a number of popular misconceptions. The positive developmental model described in this book will encourage people on the Spectrum to accept themselves by focusing on their gifts rather than weaknesses, and to avoid identifying with negative medical classifications. The developmental process which the authors describe is also applicable to other ‘hidden’ neurological conditions such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Aphasia, and ADHD. The book should be read by anyone who wants to understand the real nature and experience of autism and will also be essential reading for a range of professionals seeking to work more effectively with individuals on the spectrum. |
| alternative to aba therapy: What to Do When You Feel Like Hitting Cara Goodwin PhD, 2021-06-15 Teach toddlers safe ways to express big feelings Toddlers are still learning how to speak, socialize, and understand their emotions. It's common for them to react with their hands when they get frustrated—but hitting is never okay. What to Do When You Feel Like Hitting helps toddlers understand why hitting is not allowed and shows them how to react to their feelings with actions that are safe and kind. This illustrated entry into no hitting books for toddlers features: Alternatives to hitting—Kids will learn how to use gentle hands to squeeze a stuffed animal when they feel upset, scribble a picture to get out their frustration, and practice taking deep breaths to calm down. A light touch—The language is kid-friendly and positive, encouraging toddlers to understand and communicate their feelings, not just keep their hands to themselves. Engaging illustrations—Big, beautiful pictures help kids see the ideas in action and keep their attention on the page. Get the best in no hitting books for toddlers with a storybook that helps them learn empathy and compassion. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Key Learning Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Nicole DeWitt, Thomas L. Whitman, 2011-08-15 Finding a way of simultaneously addressing the sensory, motor, emotional, communicative, cognitive and social needs of children on the autism spectrum can be a real challenge, and choosing from the vast array of options available is a daunting task. This book provides a blueprint for an educational intervention program that is evidence-based, comprehensive in scope and integrative in its approach. Grouping techniques into five categories for discussion, the book examines autism spectrum disorders within a developmental context, and shows that interventions with autistic individuals are not only possible, but can be really successful. Specific intervention strategies and program examples for developing competencies in areas such as joint attention, sensory integration, motor functioning, impulse control, memory, self-awareness, theory of mind and empathy, abstract thinking, problem-solving, social skills and community engagement, are presented. Techniques for dealing with specific behavior problems are also examined, including toileting delays, temper-tantrums, and eating and sleeping problems, amongst many others. This book will be essential reading for families, teachers, and other professionals working with children with autism. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Parent—Child Interaction Therapy Toni L. Hembree-Kigin, Cheryl Bodiford McNeil, 2013-06-29 This practical guide offers mental health professionals a detailed, step-by-step description on how to conduct Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) - the empirically validated training program for parents with children who have disruptive behavior problems. It includes several illustrative examples and vignettes as well as an appendix with assessment instruments to help parents to conduct PCIT. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Sincerely, Your Autistic Child Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network, 2021-03-30 A diverse collection of autistic voices that highlights how parents can avoid common mistakes and misconceptions, and make their child feel truly accepted, valued, and celebrated for who they are. Most resources available for parents come from psychologists, educators, and doctors, offering parents a narrow and technical approach to autism. Sincerely, Your Autistic Child represents an authentic resource for parents written by autistic people themselves. From childhood and education to culture, gender identity, and sexuality, this anthology tackles the everyday joys and challenges of growing up while honestly addressing the emotional needs, sensitivity, and vibrancy of autistic kids, youth, and young adults. Contributors reflect on what they have learned while growing up on the autism spectrum and how parents can avoid common mistakes and overcome challenges while raising their child. Part memoir, part guide, and part love letter, Sincerely, Your Autistic Child is an indispensable collection that invites parents and allies into the unique and often unheard experiences of autistic children and teens. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Handbook of Treatment Planning for Children with Autism and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders Pamela McPherson, 2022-10-25 This handbook addresses treatment planning for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs) using a medical home perspective. It examines the medical home model, which has been promoted as the standard of care by the American Academy of Pediatrics since 2002, emphasizing collaboration between patients, families, and providers to optimize care. The handbook addresses treatment planning, including the coordination of the care provided by multiple specialists with a clear, shared vision for maximizing each child’s potential. Key areas of coverage include: · Elements of treatment planning, history of the medical home model, documentation, and strategies to facilitate communication. · Goals of treatment from the perspectives of the family, person served, care providers, and fiscal and regulatory bodies. · Role of each specialist, highlighting the most common conditions experienced by children with ASD and other NDD with expectations for assessment and treatment. · Detailed recommendations for making referrals and assisting the child and family in preparing for appointments. The Handbook of Treatment Planning for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Neurodevelopmental Disabilities is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians, therapists, and other professionals across such interrelated disciplines as clinical child, school, and developmental psychology, child and adolescent psychiatry, social work, rehabilitation medicine/therapy, pediatrics, and special education. |
| alternative to aba therapy: The SCERTS Model Barry M. Prizant, 2006 A two-volume assessment and intervention system, The SCERTS(TM) Model provides a framework for assessing and improving communication and social-emotional abilities in preschool and primary school students with autism spectrum disorders and their |
| alternative to aba therapy: Bringing ABA to Home, School, and Play for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Disabilities Debra Leach, 2012 Use the proven ABA approach to support children from birth-5 with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities. This practical, reader-friendly book gives you complete guidance on weaving ABA into everyday routines. 25 sample teaching plans incl |
| alternative to aba therapy: The Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (the ABLLS) James W. Partington, Mark L. Sundberg, 1998 An assessment, curriculum guide, and skills tracing system for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Introducing Therapeutic Robotics for Autism Raheel Nawaz, Sara Ali, 2022-11-08 Written accessibly from the user’s perspective, Introducing Therapeutic Robotics for Autism is a must read for researchers from related disciplinary backgrounds including robotics, educational psychology, cognitive sciences, and ASD. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Healthcare for Children on the Autism Spectrum Fred R. Volkmar, Lisa A. Wiesner, 2004 Although children with an ASD disorder can be as healthy as other children, keeping them that way can be a challenge. Autism experts offer parents information for dealing with these challenges and understanding on what's most important to their child's medical, nutritional, and behavioural well-being. |
| alternative to aba therapy: Girl, Interrupted Susanna Kaysen, 2013-06-19 30th ANNIVERSARY EDITION • NATIONAL BESTSELLER • In 1967, after a session with a psychiatrist she'd never seen before, eighteen-year-old Susanna Kaysen was put in a taxi and sent to McLean Hospital. Her memoir of the next two years is a poignant, honest ... triumphantly funny ... and heartbreaking story (The New York Times Book Review). WITH A NEW INTRODUCTION BY THE AUTHOR The ward for teenage girls in the McLean psychiatric hospital was as renowned for its famous clientele—Sylvia Plath, Robert Lowell, James Taylor, and Ray Charles—as for its progressive methods of treating those who could afford its sanctuary. Kaysen's memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perception while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. It is a brilliant evocation of a parallel universe set within the kaleidoscopically shifting landscape of the late sixties. Girl, Interrupted is a clear-sighted, unflinching document that gives lasting and specific dimension to our definitions of sane and insane, mental illness and recovery. |
ALTERNATIVE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of ALTERNATIVE is offering or expressing a choice. How to use alternative in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Alternative.
ALTERNATIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
ALTERNATIVE definition: 1. An alternative plan or method is one that you can use if you do not want to use another one: 2…. Learn more.
ALTERNATIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Alternative definition: a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses of action, the selection of which precludes any other possibility.. See examples of …
ALTERNATIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
Alternative is used to describe something that is different from the usual things of its kind, or the usual ways of doing something, in modern Western society. For example, an alternative …
Alternative - Wikipedia
Alternative (Kamen Rider), a character in the Japanese TV series Kamen Rider RyukiAlternative comics, or independent comics are an alternative to mainstream superhero comics; Alternative …
Alternative - definition of alternative by The Free Dictionary
Define alternative. alternative synonyms, alternative pronunciation, alternative translation, English dictionary definition of alternative. n. 1. a. One of a number of possible choices or courses of …
alternative noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
alternative something that you can choose to have or do out of two or more possibilities: You can be paid in cash weekly or by cheque monthly: those are the two alternatives. option, choice or …
What does alternative mean? - Definitions.net
Alternative refers to one or more options or choices available as a substitute or replacement to the existing one. It generally denotes the possibility of choice between two or more things. In …
Alternative Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
ALTERNATIVE meaning: 1 : offering or expressing a choice; 2 : not usual or traditional often used to describe something that is more natural or that causes less pollution than the usual product, …
alternative - WordReference.com Dictionary of English
a choice among only two possibilities such that if one is chosen, the other cannot be chosen: Here are the alternatives: surrender or die. one of these choices: The alternative to riding is walking. …
ALTERNATIVE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
The meaning of ALTERNATIVE is offering or expressing a choice. How to use alternative in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Alternative.
ALTERNATIVE | English meaning - Cambridge Diction…
ALTERNATIVE definition: 1. An alternative plan or method is one that you can use if you do not want to …
ALTERNATIVE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Alternative definition: a choice limited to one of two or more possibilities, as of things, propositions, or courses …
ALTERNATIVE definition and meaning | Collins English Di…
Alternative is used to describe something that is different from the usual things of its kind, or the usual ways of doing something, in modern Western society. For example, an …
Alternative - Wikipedia
Alternative (Kamen Rider), a character in the Japanese TV series Kamen Rider RyukiAlternative comics, or independent comics are an alternative to mainstream superhero comics; …
