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Written by: Kassidy Ashbeck, MS, Elizabeth Hardesty, MA, BCBA, and Thomas Zane, PhD, BCBA-D Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas An increasingly popular treatment used to promote physical, occupational, and speech-language goals is hippotherapy, a therapeutic approach that utilizes the multidimensional movement of a horse to achieve functional outcomes (American Hippotherapy Association, n.d.,).…
Udzella, N., Kovalic, K., Hirst, H., & Luiselli, J. K. (2024). Establishing tolerance for orthotics casting in a child with autism spectrum disorder and idiopathic toe walking. Clinical Case Studies, 23(6), 446–456. https://doi.org/10.1177/15346501241273341 Reviewed by: Frank Cicero, PhD, BCBA, Seton Hall University Why research this topic? Children with autism and other developmental disabilities often have…
Elizabeth Hardesty, MA, BCBA, Breanna Roberts, MA, BCBA, and Thomas Zane, PhD, BCBA-D Department of Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas In this article, we will discuss background information and current research on Snoezelen Rooms® or multi-sensory environments (MSE) that claim to treat symptoms of ASD including atypical sensory responses. Atypical sensory responses are now…
Written by: Courtney Keleher, MEd, BCBA1, Kristina Gasiewski, MOTR/L, MEd, BCBA2, Mary Jane Weiss, PhD, BCBA-D1, 2 1Endicott College 2Melmark Description: In the 1970s, Dr. A. Jean Ayres developed sensory integration (SI) theory, which is based on the idea that atypical sensory processing requires therapeutic exposure to sensations that can change the brain’s ability to…
Written by: Kristina Gasiewski, MOTR/L, M.Ed., BCBA Melmark Description: Weighted vests are a Sensory Based Intervention (SBI) often used by occupational therapists and educators to target problem behaviors (e.g., inattentiveness or repetitive/stereotypical behaviors that interfere with an individual’s ability to engage in on-task behavior). The weighted vest is intended to help the individual modulate their…
We know that autism is a complex condition with very diverse presentations. When considering sensory-based interventions, we also know that there are many different approaches that vary widely in both scope and implementation. Therefore, it is not possible or appropriate to provide a single treatment summary that addresses sensory-based interventions for autism. Whereas sensory-based interventions…
Dolphin Assisted Therapy Lori Marino, PhD Whale Sanctuary Project & the Department of Animal Studies, New York University David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D Association for Science in Autism Treatment Description: Dolphin Assisted Therapy (DAT) is a form of animal‐assisted therapy (AAT) in which children or adults with various conditions interact with or swim with live captive…
Compiled by Kate McKenna, MEd, MSEd, MS, BCBA and Kristina Gasiewski, MEd, MOTR/L, BCBA Association for Science in Autism Treatment Occupational and physical therapists are important members of the treatment team providing services to individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. In keeping with our mission of promoting effective evidenced-based treatments for individuals with…