Have a resource to share? Please email me at chrisbarthold@bartholdautism.com

These resources are presented as information and should NOT be construed as a recommendation or endorsement by me. If you are a parent, you need to be an informed consumer. Research, read, and ASK QUESTIONS!

General Autism Information | Behavior Analysis Interventions | Discrete Trial Interventions | Verbal Behavior | Incidental Teaching & Naturalistic Interventions | Providers in Maryland

Autism is a life-long disorder, typically diagnosed before age, 3, that affects socialization and communication skills. It is impossible to predict outcome with the information that we have now about our kids - every child is different!

There are many treatments out there for autism - biomedical, cognitive, behavioral, and sensory. While other treatments may be effective, the most well researched over many years are the ones based upon BF Skinner's Behavior Analysis.

All of the resources here, except for the general autism information, relate to Applied Behavior Analysis.

General Autism & Intervention Information

What is autism and what causes it? How do I navigate all of the interventions out there? Where do I start?

• Autism Society of America - the oldest organization for individuals with autism in America. Started by parents. Click on "chapters" to access information for counties in Maryland
• University of South Dakota Topic Pages - do see "characteristics of effective intervention" for a balanced way to evaluate all claims about intervention.
• National Institutes of Mental Health Autism Factsheet
• Autism Education Network - general information especially good for people new to Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Elija Foundation - a New York Parent and Professional partnership
• AutismSpeaks - includes video clips from NBC and MSNBC on autism
• National Autism Association

Back to Top

Behavior Analysis Interventions

Many interventions are based upon BF Skinner's Behavior Analysis. Many people confuse ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) with specific procedures. Actually, all of the procedures listed here are ABA, and based upon the same theoretical model!

• Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies - a comprehensive resource about behavior analysis and all of its applications (do look at the consumer guidelines for autism providers)
• Association for Behavior Analysis International - the professional organization for behavior analysts
• BF Skinner Foundation - who is this guy Skinner? Find out - in his own words!
• Behavior Analyst Certification Board - a good place to begin looking for providers; please remember that not all Board Certified Behavior Analysts are autism specialists
• http://www.autismusaba.de/english.html - a resource describing the similarities and differences between behavior analytic interventions for autism (you may want to look at the different resources listed below)
• Teaching Children with Autism using Applied Behavior Analysis - an interesting and comprehensive site
• Autism Teaching Tools - overview of interventions for students with autism
• http://www.contextualpsychology.org/rft - an interesting site describing Relational Frame Theory, a theory of human language and cognition that has possible implications for the behavioral teaching of children with autism
• Healing Thresholds - comprehensive website with lots of good information

Back to Top

Discrete Trial Interventions

O. Ivar Lovaas was one of the first people to apply Behavior Analytic principles to the education of children with autism. It is not, however, the only ABA approach. When you hear people say, "I do ABA", they probably mean Discrete Trial teaching. ABA, though, is much more than that.

• Lovaas Institute for Early Intervention - need I say more?
• Overview of DTI from Illinois State University - a good overview of Discrete Trial Teaching
• ABA Resources for Recovery - a list/website created by Richard Saffran, a father of a child with autism. Please note that Discrete Trial Interventions do not promise "recovery" from ASD!
• Information on Discrete Trial Teaching - reprinted from the Indiana Resource Center for Autism

Back to Top

Verbal Behavior

There are many providers, including myself, who base their interventions on BF Skinner's Analysis of Verbal Behavior. Click on these sites to learn more about it.

• Christina Burk's website - lots of good information on what VB is and what it isn't
• http://www.verbalbehaviornetwork.com - Links to data sheets and other good resources
• Establishing Operations, Inc. - Link to Cherish Twigg and Holly Kibbe's site.
• Behavior Analysts, Inc. - Link to Dr. James Partington's school and resources (the creator of VB intervention for children with autism)
• Verbal Behavior Special Interest Group of the Association for Behavior Analysis - more theoretical and not necessarily about autism, but interesting information nonetheless.
• Brilliant Minds -a concise description of the "Verbal Behavior" model

Incidental Teaching & Naturalistic Interventions

Incidental Teaching, Natural Language Paradigm, Pivotal Response Training, and Millieu Language Training share many of the same characteristics. They are child-centered interventions carried out in the child's natural environment across the day.

• UCSB Koegel Autism Center - descriptions and videos of Pivotal Response Training
• A Description of Incidental Teaching
• A Description of Natural Language Paradigm
• Walden Preschool, Emory University - a well-known school based upon the Incidental Teaching Model

Back to Top

Other Providers in Maryland

• Forbush School, Sheppard Pratt Health Systems - has locations throughout the state
• Ivymount School
• Trellis Services
• Institute for Professional Practice
• Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children (CSAAC)
• Autism Outreach

Back to Top