Last month I wrote an article entitled, “Beyond ABA Treatment.” It is the first of a series of articles I am writing designed for parents and professionals who want to educate themselves about the various treatment options for autism spectrum disorders.
In “Beyond ABA” I stated that I am continuously struck by how little the “professionals” and the “decision-makers” really know about autism and its treatment options. As a mother of a child with autism and now an autism professional, I have made it my business to educate myself as to what therapies and intervention models are out there. I commented in my last article that, “Just as there are not two children on the spectrum who are the same, there is no ‘one size fits all’ type of approach to autism.”
As in any field, the best way to approach autism is by educating yourself. If you are a parent with a child on the spectrum you need to be proactive and find out as much as you can. To start, I highly recommend that you talk to other parents who have been down this road to really get an insider’s perspective of their experiences. If you need help finding these families, contact your local Autism Society chapter and ask.
Just because something worked for “Johnny” across the street does not mean that it will work for your child. Remember, each child on the spectrum is different. Your job for now is simply to collect information. I can not emphasize this point enough. You do not want to make such an important decision – one that will most likely shape your child’s life – if you are in the crisis state. The exception to this rule is speech, occupational (OT), and/or physical therapy (PT). Contact those families. Ask them and talk about your questions and concerns. If possible ask to meet their child. It helped me a great deal to see other children with autism. In my next article I will discuss the different theoretical approaches to the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
