Research: Educating Children with Autism

This article is an excellent resource for parents who are seeking to understand the type of educational support that a child with autism should be receiving through the school system.

The article states that educational planning for children with autism should not only address needs typically associated with autistic behaviors, but also needs associated with accompanying disabilities. The consensus of the National Research Council is that effective intervention should: begin early, be intensive, occur throughout the day, and involve a great deal of one-on-one time with an adult. They recommend the use of certain techniques such as applied behavioral analysis. The National Research Council found that effective programs are very similar in terms of their levels of organization, staffing, and ongoing monitoring. They emphasize, however, that differences in philosophy and practice can provide for a range of alternatives for parents and school systems.