Thousands of young children (birth to 3) with autism spectrum disorders in the U.S. are waiting for intensive (10-15 hours/week, 1-on-1) early intervention services. A formal diagnosis can take months of waiting to achieve, and therapist delivered services alone cannot meet the growing need.
Parent Implemented Models, which use a Developmental and Relationship Based (PIM DRB) approach, are evidence-based, empower families to provide intensive autism intervention, and offer a public policy solution for wait-listed children, thereby creating a 'quiet revolution' in early intervention for autism.
This quiet revolution is characterized by 3 new things:
1) A focus on autism in the early intervention (EI) federal system for children less than 3
2) Offering autism specific EI services
3) Providing these autism specific services to children with signs of autism. (i.e., those children who have difficulties with relating and/or communicating, etc.)
Presently, in most states, EI system programs do NOT offer autism specific interventions. Children that have hearing loss or vision problems are provided specific interventions through EI, children with cerebral palsy are provided with specific intervention in EI…why not children with autism? Evidence shows, the earlier we provide services for autism the better, and yet, the average age for beginning intervention for children with autism is between 4-5 years of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics is now recommending that pediatricians screen for autism at 18 months and 24 months. Despite pediatricians' referrals, early intervention systems disappointingly fail to provide the autism-specific services that these children desperately need!
All parents share two goals: to have a joyful connection with their children, and to help their children make developmental progress. Children with autism, or autistic traits are different from children with other abilities. They are harder to engage; parents need special guidance to achieve their goals.
The beauty of offering autism specific, PIM DRB intervention in EI systems is that this model doesn’t change the basics of what EI professionals are already doing—home visiting, coaching, and providing support. The model changes how they coach parents! Instead of general coaching and general support, EI professionals would offer specific coaching for autism using evidence-based PIM DRB models. Several states have trained EI professionals in PIM DRB statewide (more details below on our upcoming OCALICON presentation). Too many very young children with autism, or traits of autism are waiting for a specific intervention in our EI systems. We can help them now by training more professionals to coach more parents in PIM DRB.
Recently, I had a wonderful experience speaking with one of my former patients’ parents. Mom contacted me to share that their son, now a freshman in college, is enrolled in the honors program, getting all As and Bs, and is studying Engineering. This young man received The P.L.A.Y. Project services through Ohio’s Help Me Grow EI program where P.L.A.Y. has been offered to families for over 10 years. The right intervention at the right time can often change a child’s developmental course for the rest of their lives! The PLAY Project is committed to providing autism specific parent implemented interventions! The quiet revolution continues!
Play on!
Dr. Rick
