[afraidfortherepublic]

I am looking for information about autism services and schools available in the Albany, NY area. My daughter's family needs to relocate there within a year from northern NJ and needs a good program for my grandson. There are several different educational methods used with these children, and some work better than others. I'd especially appreciate making contact with parents of autistic children in upstate NY.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

A detailed analysis of the approaches to treating autism would require a lengthy volume. For the purposes of this post, I will list them in an outline form and add a conclusion about their effectiveness based upon Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism; A Manual for Parents and Professionals:

1. Special Education

A. Project TEACCH
B. Other Public School Classes
C. The Higashi School
D. Full Inclusion

Conclusion: Little scientific evidence to suggest such classes are helpful without Applied Behavior Analysis.

2. Speech and Language Therapies

Conclusion: Not intensive enough to be very effective, but may augment other interventions.

3. Sensory-Motor Therapies

A. Sensory Integration Therapy
B. Auditory Integration Training
C. Facilitated Communication

Conclusion: Studies are sparse and have consistently yielded adverse findings.  

4. Psychotherapies

A. Psychoanalysis
B. Other Psychotherapies

Conclusion: Ineffective, possibly harmful.

5. Biological Treatments

A. Medications
B. Diets
C. Megavitamins
D. Prevention and Treatment of Infections
E. Chiropractic (see Topics in Clinical Chiropractic)

Conclusion: Medications like major tranquilizers produce serious side effects and have not been shown to beneficial, nor have diets, megavitamins or treatments of infections. The use of Prozac, Anafranil, naltrexone, and high doses of B6 with magnesium merit further research, but do entail risks for negative side effects.

6. Applied Behavior Analysis

Conclusion: This is the most recommended approach according to the authors of Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism. This is by far the most successful at present. According to parents, professionals and the results so far, early diagnosis and intervention with this intensive therapy has produced the most measurable results. Time may prove that there are other methods that are better. However, there isn’t that luxury to wait for better methods. We have to run with what is working.

See my previous post for publication data...