Autism Therapies
Archived Posts from this Category
Podcast 8: Drugs or No Drugs?
Posted by Myra on 21 May 2008 | Tagged as: Autism Therapies, Podcasts
A difficult decision whether to try medication for our children on the spectrum.
Podcast 5: Talk with your hands
Posted by admin on 22 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Autism Therapies, Podcasts
Sign language can open door of communication for children with autism.
Thought from Kelli
Posted by Kelli on 08 Apr 2008 | Tagged as: Autism Therapies
Hi! My name is Kelli and I have been doing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
therapy with kids with autism for more than 5 years. I knew nothing about
autism until I registered for a psychology course on developmental
disabilities my senior year in college. The course focused on autism, and
required the completion of 50 hours of therapy with a child with autism.
It was then that I was formally trained in ABA. I have to admit that I
was not completely prepared for what was ahead of me. I had no idea then
how taking this one course would completely change my life.
The first little guy I did ABA therapy with was only 3 years old and was
just starting an intensive 40 hour a week in home program. During the
first few weeks this little guy would cry every time he had to go
downstairs for therapy, and we would spend most of the session this way.
It broke my heart to see this little guy so upset. But then some amazing
things started to happen. He was progressing through his programs,
learning many of basic skills he would need to complete more complex
tasks. He started to enjoy the therapy sessions, knowing that we would
spend time playing, as well as working. And he started talking. None of
this happened overnight-the progress was slow and there were setbacks. But
after a year of therapy this little guy, who didn’t say more than a few
words when he began therapy, was doing great-he was talking, playing
appropriately with other kids his age, and doing many of the things a 4
year old should! It made all those difficult sessions in the beginning
worthwhile!
In the last three years I have had the opportunity to work with both Lisa’s
and Myra’s little guys. Mateo and Darby work so hard compared to other
kids their age. As we have found, ABA alone isn’t the answer; there are
so many other therapies that need to be included depending on the
individual needs of each child. The key is to find what works for each
individual child and build upon their unique talents and skills.