Within the last few years, several task forces and expert panels have been created to review research on treatments for individuals with autism. These include The Association for Science in Autism Treatment, The National Autism Center’s National Standards Project, The Maine Department of Health and Human Services/Maine Department of Education’s Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders and The Report of the New York State Department of Health Early Intervention Program.

According to these reports, interventions based on applied behavior analytic approaches (ABA) have received the most extensive research, and research indicates that ABA approaches are effective. These reports all concluded that behavioral and educational interventions are currently the main treatments for individuals with autism.

Based on these conclusions, these reports have recommended ABA as the intervention of choice for individuals with autism. ABA currently has substantially more scientific support than any other behavioral or educational intervention for children with autism. Other behavioral and educational interventions as untested and parents who are considering these interventions should evaluate them carefully.

Of late, (ABA) has been paired with the treatment of children with autism, however; it is not a new procedure, nor is it exclusive to the treatment of autism. It is also important to note that ABA is not just for teaching people with disabilities, it is for teaching people. As we say at Little Star, ABA is for anything with a face. I can teach my neuro-typical child to pick up his dirty clothes with the same techniques I would use to teach my son with autism to pick up his dirty clothes. We all respond to the same basic principles of behavior. You can teach a dog to sit and you can teach a good student to be a better student. Everything with a face can be taught new skills.

© 2012-2013 Little Star Center, Inc. All rights reserved.

Protected by Copyscape Duplicate Content Penalty Protection

  • An Article You May Have Missed: For Kids With Autism, Wings to Fly

    The December 3, 2012 issue of People magazine features a Heroes Among Us article which includes Wendy Ross, a pediatrician in Philadelphia.  Ross developed an air-travel program at Philadelphia International Airport with clinicians and airlines that allows children with autism the opportunity to practice everything related to air travel including check-in, security screening, and boarding a flight so as to reduce challenging behaviors.  Parents are finding the program a huge help in making air travel a smoother experience.  According to the article, United Airlines starts rolling out the program this month nationally through Ross’s Autism Inclusion Resources (AIR), the nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children with autism prepare for air travel. Little Star Research and ... (Read more)

  • The Hoosier Association for Behavior Analysis (HABA) 2012 Conference

    [caption id="attachment_1494" align="alignright" width="284"] Casey Moore, Maggie Moore (L to R), Leigh Broughan, Jamy Wisher, Jackie Thaxton and Erin Quirk attended the 2012 HABA Conference.[/caption] Little Star (LSC) staff recently attended the fourth Hoosier Association for Behavior Analysis (HABA) Conference.  HABA, the state chapter of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), brought in Dr. David Celberti, executive director for The Association for Science and Autism Treatment (ASAT) to provide the keynote address: “Science: Don’t Treat Autism Without It (that applies to everyone).” The presentation highlighted the role that behavior analysts can play in helping consumers and other providers choose and implement interventions, as well as evaluate outco... (Read more)

  • The Artistry of Gentry Groshell

    [caption id="attachment_1485" align="alignleft" width="200"] Gentry Groshell standing in front of one of her paintings.[/caption] Gentry Groshell, daughter of Amy Gudal Groshell—the founder of Little Star Center, is an amazing artist.  Her paintings grace the walls of Little Star’s centers in Carmel and Lafayette, Indiana as well as the Groshell home and the Duval County Public Library in Florida. The demand for her work is such that her canvases and jewelry collection are available for purchase via the website, peaceofheartjewelry.com.  Through her talent, Gentry has become an inspiration to other young people with autism and their families. The story of Gentry’s journey in painting is chronicled in an excerpt in the article, “Healing Through the Arts,”  in the Septembe... (Read more)

  • Errorless Learning: When the Learner is Always Right

    Little Star Center (LSC) -- created by a family of a child with autism -- was the first in Indiana to employ Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment, which has long been considered the most effective intervention method for children with autism.  ABA features several instructional approaches for consideration when developing a learner’s personal program. One of the ABA evidence-based procedures used by the Little Star clinical team is ‘errorless learning’ or ‘errorless teaching.’ Errorless learning is a strategy to ensure independence in the learner and foster success by systematically fading out assistance. Learners (or all people, actually) , at times, become frustrated or discouraged if they make a mistake and may hesitate to try a skill again. Or, the learner learns a skil... (Read more)