Three B-E-D Intervention Models & Differing Autism Community Philosophies: Behavioral Model
BEHAVIORAL models seek to provide very intensive early intervention in order to discretely train and to specifically reinforce typical verbal and social behaviors as the only "optimum" outcomes. The core value is to fully remediate Autism as early as possible in as many children as possible. The cost is initially very high because clinical therapy starts out with professional therapists in 1:1 work across settings 40 hours a week. However, if treatment is effective costs can drop as it can be done by trained paraprofessioinals and parents under the supervision of a certified behavioral therapist. Costs long term drop if the child is able to move to small groups as the requisite typical competencies are reached, and finally to typical educational settings with no supports at all long term. Costs for children who do not achieve this optimum behavioral outcome can remain very high if one to one behavioral model approach is continued long term. The risks are prompt dependence and a serious drain on families' and public agencies resources. The purported benefit is observable typical behavior in 50% of all subjects and significant improvement in 80%+/- of subjects. This overall finding is a GROUP statistic does NOT translate into the fact that any INDIVIDUAL child has a 50-80% chance of achieving optimum outcomes at all. Because people with Autism present such a heterogeneous group, and their individual prognosis has proven not to be accurately predictable, and finally because innate biological features of Autism and its related neurological damage create significant control factors on any models nurturable developmental outcomes, no such percentage of chance of success using any model is possible. It is best if we do not choose models based on chance, but rather on a deeply reflective choice of the approach we adults will commit to follow, and a critical analysis of cost to benefits in relation to our available resources. For if adults will match up commitments to our resources we can provide best practices.
Some examples of behavioral model approaches are Behavior Modifications (Dr. Ivar Lovaas UCLA), Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Discrete Trial Therapy (actually a model and a strategy common to most of these B models.) Pivotal Response Training (PRT Dr. Robert Koegel UCSB) Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) and Dr. Vincent Carbone's Verbal Behaviors Skills Trainings. Contacts for Behavioral theory and practice information are listed in the Community links.
Threshold does not provide practice information on behavioral approaches because that is not our area of providership. We are a a developmental model provider. There may be other behavioral providers near you. If you choose this model we encourage you to get connected to those providers.
You can see how the Behavioral model compares to Eclectic and Developmental models in our:
B-E-D CHART
Understanding Autism Webbook. Copyright © 2000-03 by Sharone Lee. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. All names, concepts, methods, materials, products and publications are protected by trademark and copyright, and no part of this text or this web page may be reproduced or distributed in any manner, for any purpose, including educational purposes, without express written consent from: THRESHOLD • SALEM, OREGON • 503-375-9462 • sharone@understandingautism.org. Portions of "The Path Out of the Woods" were published in The Net Journal of the Autism Society of Oregon, with the Author's permission in Autism 2001 and Complimentarly Issue 2002.
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