Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism

Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism

Parents of children coping with autism spectrum disorders may feel like they face more questions than answers. While little is truly understood of autism, many parents rely on behavioral therapies to improve their child s quality of life and encourage independence. First in what will be an annually updated handbook, Ken Siri and Tony Lyons delve into cutting-edge, hands-on therapies that go beyond the diet-behavior connection, nutrition supplements, and medical treatment.

Readers of Cutting-Edge Therapies for Autism, 2010 2011 will come away with a wealth of meaningful knowledge and coping mechanisms to employ: Learn how animal-assisted therapy such as horseback-riding advances developmental growth; art therapy such as finger-painting encourages self-expression; and floor-time play therapy such as puzzle-solving teaches turn-taking and environmental awareness. Social skills therapies, speech and language therapies, and even music therapy are also explored in this volume.

New Diagnosis? How to Help a Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder

How To Help a Child With Autism on Howcast

Step 1

Take your child for a complete medical exam. Some behavioral problems associated with autism, like temper tantrums, can sometimes be reduced if physical problems common in children with autism, such as gastrointestinal issues and allergies, are alleviated.

Step 2

Put your child on a gluten-free, casein-free diet, which means no barley, rye, oats, wheat, or dairy. Many families of children with autism have had good results – but only if the diet is followed to the letter, no exceptions.

Step 3

Get your child started on speech therapy as soon as possible. If your child is nonverbal, try PECS, which stands for Picture Exchange Communication System. This technique, which uses picture cards, may encourage them to speak.

Step 4

Get your child sensory-integration therapy, which has been proven effective in helping children with autism become less sensitive to light, sound, and touch.

Step 5

Hire an occupational therapist to help them with skills they’ll need for an independent life. Depending on the child, this can be anything from physical coordination to anger management.

Step 6

Use applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, the only intervention approved by the Surgeon General’s Office. ABA is a one-on-one approach to teaching children how to react appropriately to everyday social situations with the help of rewards. Parents can either hire an ABA-trained therapist or learn the technique themselves.

Step 7

Try other therapies. Most children with autism benefit from a combination of treatments.

Step 8

Consider verbal behavior intervention, which is designed to develop language skills through motivation and reinforcement.

Step 9

Test the TEACCH approach, which customizes an education program to the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Because children with autism tend to be visual learners, the program is structured around visual clues.

Step 10

Consider becoming trained in Relationship Development Intervention, or RDI, which suggests everyday things parents can do at home to help their child adapt to changes and be more open to interacting with others.

Step 11

Enroll your child in school when they turn three. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that states provide special education services to children with disabilities, beginning at this age.

Step 12

Stay up-to-date on autism research; new therapies are being tested and developed all the time.

Autism Life Skills: From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More - 10 Essential Abilities Every Child Needs and Deserves to Learn

Autism Life Skills: From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More - 10 Essential AbilitiesEvery Child Needs and Deserves to Learn

From an award-winning author and advocate, Autism Life Skills presents a positive and empowering "bill of rights" for every person with autism, regardless of impairment level. With advice and reflections from autistic adults across the spectrum, as well as Sicile-Kira's own experience as an advocate and parent of an autistic teen, the book covers these ten essential life skills:

• Making Sense of the World


• Communication


• Safety


• Self-Esteem


• Pursuing Interests


• Self-Regulation


• Independence


• Social Relationships


• Self- Advocacy


• Earning a Living

Whether your child or student has Asperger's or is on the more severely impaired end of the autism spectrum, this action-oriented guide will provide hope and help -- so that every child has a chance to reach his or her full potential.

“Sicile-Kira has done a beautiful job of putting the voices of many people on the spectrum into one book.” —Temple Grandin, Ph.D., from the Foreword

“The many moving personal stories from adults on the spectrum in Chantal’s books provide much- needed insight into the children we are raising and educating today. Both parents and educators will gain more understanding of what it is like to have autism, and learn how we can best prepare our children for adulthood. I highly recommend this excellent book.” —Lee Grossman, President and CEO, Autism Society of America

“In her best work yet, Chantal went straight to the source – people on the autism spectrum – to answer some of the most vexing questions related to helping those with autism to lead fulfilling and productive lives to the greatest extent possible.” — Stephen M. Shore, Ed.D., author of Beyond the Wall and autism consultant

Autism Life Skills: From Communication and Safety to Self-Esteem and More - 10 Essential AbilitiesEvery Child Needs and Deserves to Learn