Numerous research studies show that the earlier the better when it comes to early intervention using applied behavior analysis in the treatment of autism.  What is not so often written about, is how exactly to begin an early intervention program and what are the critical first steps to take when a Behavior Analyst begins working with a child with autism.

One of our Clinical Directors recently attended the annual ABAI conference in San Antonio, Texas during which a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) from Poland held a session on why the first 3 months of an early intervention ABA program are so critical. The presentation focused on quality of services and building a strong foundation, reminding us not to jump ahead too quickly, not to target all deficits but to prioritize deficits and skills to ensure quality. The presenter emphasized how important it was to develop a positive relationship with the client in the first month in order to obtain optimum results. This information probably seems intuitive to most Behavior Analysts yet so many of us go about our first treatment sessions the wrong way.

When a typical ABA program begins, a Behavior Analyst will gather information on problematic behavior and details surround that behavior – the frequency, where it occurs, when it occurs, etc. The Behavior Analyst will meet with important people in your child’s life, such as friends, babysitters, teachers, and relatives to get an understanding of how they behave within a variety of relationships. Also, they will schedule a time to observe your child to personally witness the problematic behavior. Once they have gathered enough information, the Behavior Analyst will complete an entire behavioral assessment on your child’s behavior and then begin to implement the plan in your child’s natural setting such as the home or classroom. A Behavior Therapist will typically show up with a bag of tricks (toys, games, motivators) and get to work. This is where, according to the presenter, some of us may be going wrong.

What she recommends is to use the first month to build motivation in the child by establishing a playful rapport. Do whatever it takes to win him over – jump on the couch, do fun activities or just be silly.  If a child knows that every time his therapist comes he/she will need to work, then a feeling of dread comes over the child when the therapist arrives. But if the first month is used to establish a positive foundation, the child will look forward to the arrival of his therapist and be more motivated to work.

Another recommendation is to take a step back in the beginning to see what are the motivating factors that are already in the child’s home. If all the therapist uses to motivate the child are his special toys in the bag of tricks, it will be very difficult for the parents to replicate once the therapist leaves. If there are things in the household that motivate the child – special  DVD’s, one-on-one attention, preferred games – use these motivators rather than the toys that come and go with the therapist.

Wellspring is committed to being at the forefront of the behavioral health services industry. We strive to keep up to date with all the latest research and trends in the industry. It is always our pleasure to pass along to our readers and clients the valuable information we learn.

It’s the end of the school year and time for graduation. Graduation speeches aren’t usually something to write about, but one young student made ABC news stop and listen.  To all the parents of young autistic children who still may not be speaking, note that this young man did not say a word until he was 5 years old. Being autistic, he was probably the least likely candidate to speak at a high school graduation and yet here he stands at the podium proudly grinning in cap and gown. Equally impressive is the perseverance of his parents who spent hours every day to ensure that their son would defy the odds and never underestimated his potential.
Watch this video and it is difficult not to be touched by the young man’s profound eloquence. His inspirational speech delivers a message from which we all can learn: “Do not allow yourself or others to be defined by your limitations but rather your abilities.”

Parade Magazine, a supplement to the Sunday LA Times, published a wonderful interview with golfer Ernie Els. In the interview, Ernie discusses his decision to open up about his son’s autism and why he and his wife Liezl have decided to help build a school for kids with autism. It’s a wonderful article and I think many parents will benefit from reading about the Elses personal battle against autism, dealing with the gamut of emotions that goes along with parenting a child with autism and how much better things have been for them and their children since publicly announcing that their son has autism.  It’s not easy for a parent to openly admit these emotions, especially when one is a public figure. In the interview Els is very frank about his emotions and the funk he was in professionally during the period before his son was diagnosed but Ernie had already realized something was wrong. He emphasizes that the decision to be open about his son’s autism gave him a huge emotional lift. I applaud the Elses for their frankness and for helping to raise awareness about autism by sharing their personal story. Here is an excerpt:

Fear, Guilt, Anger, Frustration, Self-Pity. For nearly six years those emotions weighed on Ernie Els. He tried to count his blessings: a wonderful wife, Liezl; a beautiful daughter, Samantha, now 11; a gift for golf that had made him a multimillionaire. But something was wrong with his son, Ben, and Ernie couldn’t shake the bad feelings.

On a sunny Monday in early May, Leizl and Ernie are lounging in the library of their plush Jupier, Fla. Home. It’s a scene of domestic bliss – except for the tears welling up in Liezl’s eyes. “Samantha is such a bright kid,” says Ernie, 40. “She was up and running at 10 months. But with Ben, we started seeing that he was just no cooperating or progressing.”

“There was a clear difference,” Liezl notes. The difference was autism, or more accurately, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which, according to the National Institutes of Health, “cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others.” Now Ben is 7, and his parents are united in the fight against ASD – which affects on in 110 children according to the CDC.

In early 2008, while the family was living in England, the couple decided to move to Jupiter where Ernie could work on his game and Ben could attend the Renaissance Learning Center, one of two schools the Autism Project of Palm Beach County administers. The Elses were so impressed, they decided to help the project realize its goal of creating a world-class ASD facility. The move – and the decision to be open about Ben’s autism – gave Els a huge emotional lift.  In March 2008, he won the Honda Classic. Five days later, he held a press conference: “I just said, ‘I’ve got a boy with autism, and his name is Ben.’”

“I realized how lucky we are,” he says. “We have a teacher for Ben. I have weeks off where I can spend time with Ben. Can you imagine fathers – and their families – who don’t have that? Those are the people I really feel for. Thos are the people I want to help.” And, of course, kids like Ben.

To read the full interview, go to Parade.com/elses

Women have been doing it for over a decade: Pee on a stick in the privacy of your own home and moments later, find out if you are pregnant. Two lines or one, positive or negative, pregnant or not pregnant. It’s as simple as that. Could it now be this simple to diagnose Autism?

According to new research just published, children with autism have a different chemical fingerprint in their urine than non-autistic children. The researchers behind the study, from Imperial College London and the University of South Australia, suggest that their findings could ultimately lead to a simple urine test to determine whether or not a young child has autism.

According to the CDC, Autism affects an estimated one in every 100 people in the US. People with autism have a range of different symptoms, but they commonly experience problems with communication and social skills, such as understanding other people’s emotions and making conversation and eye contact. Currently, diagnosing a child with Autism can be a very subjective process. Parents often notice something is not right about their child between the ages of 12-18 months. At present, the only way to assess a child for autism is through a lengthy process involving a range of tests that explore the child’s social interaction, communication and imaginative skills. Many children don’t get diagnosed until even later, missing a critical window of opportunity for early intervention.

People with autism are also known to suffer from gastrointestinal disorders and they have a different makeup of bacteria in their guts from non-autistic people. Today’s research shows that it is possible to distinguish between autistic and non-autistic children by looking at the by-products of gut bacteria and the body’s metabolic processes in the children’s urine. The exact biological significance of gastrointestinal disorders in the development of autism is unknown.

The distinctive urinary metabolic fingerprint for autism identified in this new study could form the basis of a non-invasive test that might help diagnose autism earlier. This would enable autistic children to begin treatment for autism, such as advanced behavioral therapy, earlier in their development than is currently possible.
Early intervention using the methods of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can greatly improve the progress of children with autism.