Treatments for autism
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Unfortunately, there are no known cures for autism spectrum disorder. There are, however, many different interventions that can be used to help promote independence in these individuals that can help us put the ASD puzzle together. The Port Huron Area School District has many different interventions at many levels of education for students with autism and other disabilities.
The Port Huron Area School District thrives on the ability to place students with autism in their least restrictive environment where they can be the most successful student. Many of our students with autism are in general education classrooms with supports put in place by their Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Interventions at the early childhood stage of development will be under the tab "Early Intervention within the Port Huron Area School District" tab.
Interventions and supports at the elementary level can be anything! If a student needs a one-on-one paraprofessional to be successful in the general education classroom, then a paraprofessional evaluation will be conducted to see if the needs of the child matches what a one-on-one paraprofessional can give to the student. Another support that is very easy to give is that of a visual schedule. A visual schedule gives the child an explicit and concrete direction to the child of what is going to happen next. A visual schedule description is under the "Updates and Classroom Ideas for the General Education Classroom" tab. Pictures that are used in the the visual schedule are part of a system called PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) can be used as a communication device by a non-verbal student with autism. Using the visual schedule and using explicit and specific direction is part of a method called TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children).
Another intervention that can be used with any age of child with autism is called Applied Behavior Analysis. ABA is a therapy that is a one-on-one interaction between the student and the highly-trained ABA therapist that focuses on positive reinforcement, since a rewarded behavior is likely to be repeated. The video below is an example of what an ABA session looks like and what it shouldn't be.
The Port Huron Area School District thrives on the ability to place students with autism in their least restrictive environment where they can be the most successful student. Many of our students with autism are in general education classrooms with supports put in place by their Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Interventions at the early childhood stage of development will be under the tab "Early Intervention within the Port Huron Area School District" tab.
Interventions and supports at the elementary level can be anything! If a student needs a one-on-one paraprofessional to be successful in the general education classroom, then a paraprofessional evaluation will be conducted to see if the needs of the child matches what a one-on-one paraprofessional can give to the student. Another support that is very easy to give is that of a visual schedule. A visual schedule gives the child an explicit and concrete direction to the child of what is going to happen next. A visual schedule description is under the "Updates and Classroom Ideas for the General Education Classroom" tab. Pictures that are used in the the visual schedule are part of a system called PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) can be used as a communication device by a non-verbal student with autism. Using the visual schedule and using explicit and specific direction is part of a method called TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Handicapped Children).
Another intervention that can be used with any age of child with autism is called Applied Behavior Analysis. ABA is a therapy that is a one-on-one interaction between the student and the highly-trained ABA therapist that focuses on positive reinforcement, since a rewarded behavior is likely to be repeated. The video below is an example of what an ABA session looks like and what it shouldn't be.