Evidenced Based Practices for Autism Spectrum Disorders

The National Autism Center has reviewed research in practices commonly used with children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Following the  project, they came up with a list of 25 practices that have met stringent research requirements to demonstrate positive effects with specific areas of weakness.  The following is a list of the "Evidenced Based Practices" the have found and the areas for which each area has demonstrated effectiveness.  The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders has developed training modules on each of these practices.  These modules are available for the public at autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu.   This is an invaluable resource for practioners for learning more about evidenced based practices and for parent's when determining what to do to help their child.

I belive it is critical that we continue the research, not in specific treatment packages, but in specific strategies/practicies that have positive effects for specific problem areas and for specific age groups.  Please let us know what you think and which of these practices have worked for your child.

Tracy Vail,MS,CCC/SLP, Autism Consultant

1. Antecedent Based Interventions:

2. Computer Assisted Instruction: academics

3. Differential Reinforcement; behavior, communication, social

4. Discrete Trial Training: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication, Play, Social

5. Extinction: Behavior

6.Functional Behavioral Assessment: Behavior, Commuication

7. Functional Communication Training: Behavior, Communication, Social

8. Naturalistic Interventions: Communication, Social

9. Parent Implemented Intervention: Behavior, Communication, Play, Social

10. Peer Mediated Instruction/Intervention: Communication, Social

11. Picture Exchange Communication System: Behavior, Communication, Social

12. Pivotal Response Training: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication, Play, Social

13. Prompting: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication

14. Reinforcement: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication

15. Response Interruption & Redirection: Academics & Cognition, Behavior

16. Self- Management: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication, Play, Social, Transitions

17. Social Narratives: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication, Play, Social

18. Social Skills Groups; Communication, Social

19. Speech Generating Devices (VOCA): Communication

20. Stumulus Control: Academics & Cognition, behavior

21. Structured Work Systems: Academics & Cognition, Play, Transitions

22. Task Analysis: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication, Social

23. Time Delay: Academics & Cognition, Communication, Play, Social

24. Video Modeling; Academics & Cognition, Communication, Play, Social

25. visual Supports: Academics & Cognition, Behavior, Communication, Play, Social, Transitions