How to find therapies and supports for your special needs child.
This article is an addendum to my book, Invisible Parents: Hidden Secrets of Special Needs Parents: A Book of Hope, and my intention is to keep special needs parents updated on the most current research.
As any special needs parent knows, raising a child with autism is a journey unlike any other. It’s an experience filled with unique challenges, but also incredible rewards. To help you on this journey, we’ll explore some lesser-known services and therapies that improve the lives of autistic children. Peer-reviewed research and expert advice backs these strategies, providing traditional and holistic approaches to support your child’s development at every stage.
A Spectrum of Possibilities
Before discussing the myriad of resources available to special needs parents, it’s vital that we put autism in the proper perspective. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is not a single category but a spectrum, and every autistic child is remarkable in their own way. To get the most out of therapies and services for your child, keep these points in mind:
Embrace Individuality: Recognize your child’s strengths, needs, and challenges, and celebrate their individuality (Yamamoto, M., & Asano, M., (2018).
Early Intervention Helps: Research shows that early intervention is key. Schedule a professional evaluation if you believe your child may be on the spectrum. Early diagnosis puts a treatment plan in place and reassures parents (Randolph, MA., 2015.).
Building Connection with Effective Communication: Establishing a powerful connection with your child is imperative. If your child is hearing impaired, the entire family — especially the child — should learn sign language so communication is clear. Using concise and simple language, along with patience and calmness, is prudent (Hudry et al., 2017).
Visual Aids: Colorful, clear picture schedules and sensory-focused teaching aids help reduce anxiety by building better secure communication.
Established Routines: Autistic children often thrive in organized environments. Planning their days with consistent routines helps reduce anxiety and gives them a sense of security (Schreibman, et al., 2015).
Create Sensory-Friendly Spaces: Many autistic children experience sensory overstimulation. Creating a sensory-friendly home by mitigating sensory triggers and offering sensory toys will help your child stay calm (Park M., Lee K., (2014–2016).
Traditional Therapies and Supports for Autistic Children
While the autism community learns of new and innovative medical treatments and therapies every year, many traditional and holistic-based therapies remain unknown. These unique therapies help assist autistic children and ensure they develop important life skills.
The following list summarizes therapies and supports for autistic children, including behavioral, family-based, therapy-based, and alternative. Some therapies and supports work with other types and some contain common themes.
In each category, peer-reviewed research highlights key points of each protocol. Remember that these therapies and supports are always more effective with a family’s input. After all, as a parent, you know your child best.
Behavioral Therapies and Supports
Behavioral therapies and supports for autistic children include structured techniques to help children understand new behaviors or skills. Behavior therapy protocols classify as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
DTT and other similar therapies are based on Applied Behavior Analysis theory used in various teaching therapies for autistic children (Arim RG., Miller AR., 2017). Condensed skills, simplified to their most basic units, teach children step by step. While children aged 2–6 years remain the focus, people of any age may benefit.
ABA is not without controversy. Many older autistic people who experienced ABA-type therapies when they were children believe ABA supports “masking” autism with the idea that autistic children should behave like normal children (Jessel J., Hanley GP., 2016)). A belief that ABA doesn’t include neurodiversity in its philosophy because it doesn’t accept the differences in how brains function in the real world permeates neurodiverse society.
Other forms of ABA therapies include Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI), Incidental Teaching, Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), and Positive Behavior Support (PBS). They all share similar philosophies, such as simplifying skills and teaching step by step.
Family-Based Therapies and Supports
Perhaps one of the most important therapies and supports is the family-based concept. As a special needs parent, you are the authority of your child, perhaps more than any professional therapist, doctor, or teacher (Heidary A, Shahidi LH., Mohammadpuor A., 2015). Because it involves the support of family members, family-based therapy supports your child’s developmental needs through family bonding.
While there are many family-based therapy programs, a good example is More Than Words. This family-oriented program, and others like it, focuses on group-based training with families. At its core, parents learn new communication skills so they learn to communicate better with their autistic child. The program also strengthens a child’s interactions so they are better equipped to handle real-life social situations.
Therapy-Based Supports
Therapy-based supports focus on specific areas or skills. Like other therapies, they often use combined approaches for behavioral and developmental protocols. The physical or mental therapies enhance a child’s interaction skills, dexterity, problem-solving, and group participation (Tanaka M., Szabó, 2022). Examples of therapy-based supports include:
Occupational therapy to build brain and muscle-eye skills for daily living tasks
Physical therapy for improved strength, balance, and coordination
Speech therapy to improve language and intersocial skills
Sign language therapy for the hearing impaired (this is a vital therapy to begin as early as possible for improved communication)
Alternative Therapies
Besides traditional therapies, alternative therapies place perspective on the emotional and sensory components of living with autism. Light and sound sensitivity, emotional triggers, and touch deficits improve with these simple yet effective programs (Singer A., Ravi R, et al., 2014). Here are just a handful of possibilities:
Music Therapy
Music therapy is often unknown to parents, but it’s a remarkable tool for calming autistic children and adults. Sessions use the eloquence of music to promote better communication, improve social skills, and balance emotional expression. Structured music sessions encourage children to express themselves and connect with peers in a non-verbal yet exciting way. Research shows that music therapy helps improve communication and emotional control for children on the spectrum (LaGasse et al., 2019).
2. Animal-Assisted Therapy
Evolving studies support the inclusion of animals in therapy. Animal faces provide more social and emotional reward when compared to human interaction (Stevenson K., et al., (2015). The reward sections of the brain — the amygdala and putamen, respectively — show remarkable activity when autistic children interact with animals (Whyte, S., et al., 2015).
Supervised animal-assisted therapy involves dogs or other animals. Children interact with the animals, either by holding or playing with them. The trusting, gentle presence of the animals has a profound effect on autistic children, and the animals help reduce anxiety and encourage social interaction. Other positive outcomes include stress reduction, emotional well-being, and fewer outbursts.
Yoga and Mindfulness
Teaching your child guided yoga and mindfulness practices helps autistic children develop self-control and emotional intelligence. This therapy creates a rich, family-based activity with family members involved. While research is ongoing, preliminary studies show yoga and mindfulness help stress reduction, impulse regulation, and improvement of social skills (Chan et al., 2016).
Other alternative therapies include Equine-Assisted Therapy, Sensory Integration Therapy, Art Therapy, and Wilderness Therapy. Special autism camps exist throughout the United States offer monthly or weekend “stay and play” programs that include many autism therapies and more. Funded programs by grants or autism organizations continue to thrive globally and offered at low or no cost.
It Takes a Village
Raising an autistic child is a challenging journey filled with unique adventures and opportunities. By exploring traditional and lesser-known services and therapies, you create a specific approach that best supports your child’s needs and personality. Remember, every child is unique, so it’s essential to work closely with professionals to determine which therapies are the best fit for your child’s specific requirements. These programs empower you to shape the life of your autistic child while improving your parenting skills.
One of the most powerful things special needs parents can do is stay updated on autism research. For a comprehensive book on autism and tips on how to navigate the service system, see my book here. All proceeds go to autism research.
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