Dear Ms. Barloso,
Thank you for your recent article showcasing various interventions for autism for children with autism based on the time-tested and scientifically-validated principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). A common denominator among these approaches is that each enjoys scientific support and rely on data to make important decisions.
At present, there are over 500 different marketed interventions for autism, the vast majority of which lack any scientific support. Often times, journalists shed light on one of the many fad therapies lacking research support, some of which may actually cause harm. This misdirected attention to unsupported methods sadly eclipses methods already supported by research in peer-reviewed journals, as is the case with ABA. Pursuit of treatments lacking scientific support separates children from effective intervention, can waste precious resources, and can lead to poorer outcomes. This is why your article is such an important one.
We agree with you that the effects of autism vary from one child to another, and therefore parents are best positioned to decide whether or not their child requires support, and what type of support will best suit the child and family’s needs. It is also important for parents to identify providers who are qualified to deliver high quality intervention, such as board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs).
We encourage your readers to visit our website to learn more about ‘what works for autism’, and what needs more research, and what doesn’t work or is untested.
Best,
Erin Leif, PhD, BCBA-D & David Celiberti, PhD, BCBA-D, The Association for Science in Autism Treatment
