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Many readers have probably heard of Lovaas or ABA training. This is one of the long-standing therapies that have a central theme of structure which has proved positive for many children. We ourselves considered the programme but decided that for us and our little boy this was not going to be the right decision. We were, however, in a good position to offer a high level of structure and one-to-one attention, at his crucial stage of early development and felt strongly that we also had to create a learning and playing environment that accommodated his autism to some extent. The choice to go down this route is highly individual, but any parent who hasn’t heard of the therapy should at least research it. In brief, the home-based programme consists of teaching sessions conducted by a team of helpers trained by an ABA supervisor. The therapy can be intensive – up to 40 hours a week – and costly (though there are ways of trying to get help with this). Children are taught skills in a similar way to some of the techniques that I describe in this book – breaking them down into smaller tasks and using reinforcers to motivate. Many programmes are ‘play’-orientated and have come a long way since the older style ‘behaviour’-orientated programmes which have received negative publicity in the past. ABA is a big commitment emotionally, physically and financially, but for some families it is the preferred route. Those with children on the programme are usually more than willing to let you see how it works and to share their experiences. Like all therapeutic routes, parents need to explore all the possible ramifications and make an informed decision whilst trying not to get bogged down by the latest ‘recovery’ programme. This book is about demonstrating that as parents we have the power to help ourselves to knowledge and information in order to help our children.

For more information on ABA and other therapeutic options see the resources at the back of the book.