Autism
Robyn has spent many years working with children with a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and uses a range of interventions to support parents in working with their children.
Interventions for the younger children are primarily naturalistic and involve using child-directed interactions to teach functional skills in the natural environment. These interventions often involve providing a stimulating environment, modelling how to play, encouraging conversation, providing choices and direct/ natural reinforcers, and rewarding reasonable attempts.
They include:
- DIR Floortime,
- Relationship Development strategies
- Milieu programs
- Wolfberg Peer Play
To support the development of attention, problem solving, sequencing skills, receptive and expressive language skills, more structured programs are also offered. The most popular being:
- The TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children) program
- Response Contingent (ABA) intervention
- Derbyshire
- SCERTS
Parents are also encouraged to attend parent training programs such as the Hanen©
- More Than Words
- Talkability Programs
Once the parents have understood the principles of interaction with children with ASD, Robyn introduces strategies to teach visual communication using a systems such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication Systems). Sign language may also be introduced to support interaction if required.
Depending on which educational setting your child attends, intervention is then offered to the teachers and aids to support your child’s communication and educational development.
Intervention with older children may include:
- Pragmatic social language groups
- Comprehensive language assessment
- Cogmed working memory training
- Social story training for parents
- Video feedback interventions
- Training in use of technology such as iPADS and computers
Key Therapy Techniques:
- Child directed- following the child’s interests
- Adult directed- modelling and mapping steps of skills through motivating activities
- Social pragmatic language therapy in semi structured and natural settings
- Developmental progression based on development of children with and without disability.
- Motor speech training
- Picture Exchange Communication System- PECS
- Structured teaching techniques
- Visual support systems eg visual schedules
- Behaviour analysis and intervention techniques
- Theory of Mind: understanding the perspective and emotion of others
- Social Stories: to explain social situations to children with Autism. (Carol Gray)
- Cognitive and behavioural therapy techniques
- Sensory integration therapy to assist with emotional regulation
- SOS Feeding clinics and groups
- Cogmed training for difficulties with attention and working memory
- TEACCH programs to organise and assist with transitions
- Therapy generalisation- Speech Pathologist visits the home, day care, early intervention settings, kindergartens and schools