If your child has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), one useful and effective treatment option is a targeted intervention program. In this type of program, children work on developing social, language, and cognitive skills through functional activities. These skills can be reinforced at home throughout the week as well as in school with help from teachers and educators.
Early intervention for autism is key for positive outcomes for children with ASD. Through a targeted intervention program, your child can learn the skills they need for independent living and forming strong relationships with others.
Reach out to Ascend Autism today at (877) 323-8668 to learn more about our targeted intervention program and the skills your child could learn.
Skills Children Learn in a Targeted Intervention Program
At Ascend Autism, we use Applied Behavior Analysis in our targeted intervention program. Children who are in this program participate in at least 10 hours per week of therapy. Treatment programs typically incorporate a large amount of one-on-one time with a therapist or applied behavior analyst, but our targeted intervention program also utilizes activities like play to help children stay engaged and develop a variety of skills.
The skills that children will learn in a targeted intervention program include:
- Social skills
- Communication skills
- Cognitive skills
- Life skills
For children with ASD, it can be difficult to connect with others. People with autism might have difficulty picking up on nonverbal cues or forming friendships. During targeted intervention programs, children play with others and practice activities like imitation, taking turns, and sharing emotions with others through nonverbal autism cues like facial expressions. This can help them build up confidence in social situations.
Communication and language skills can also be learned during a targeted intervention program. These might include learning how to use hand gestures to indicate what a child wants, how to follow directions, and how to interpret cues from others.
Problem-solving or cognitive skills can also be developed during this type of treatment program. During play, children will come up against problems, like following rules, unexpected roadblocks, or opportunities to make strategic decisions, and can work on developing the skills they need to navigate these situations.
Finally, children can learn life skills during a targeted intervention program. For children, these could include personal hygiene skills like washing their hands. During treatment, children with ASD can work with a therapist to practice this new skill.
Benefits of a Targeted Intervention Program
While an early intervention program is often right for children ages 18 months to five years old, a targeted intervention program can be the right choice for school-aged children. This type of program allows children to attend school and then attend treatment sessions in the afternoon. Additionally, a targeted intervention program will incorporate parents into treatment by giving them the tools they need to reinforce behaviors at home.
Our Targeted Intervention Program at Ascend Autism
At Ascend Autism, we offer a variety of autism treatment programs, all of which incorporate the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis. Our goal is to promote positive outcomes for children with ASD through evidence-based practices and parental education.
In addition to our targeted intervention program, we offer several other treatment options:
Ascend Autism provides personalized programs for every child in our care. When you reach out to our team, you can make an appointment for an assessment, during which we’ll determine the right kind of treatment and number of hours of therapy.
Our early intervention and targeted intervention programs are often just two of the first steps in autism treatment. No matter if you’ve just received this diagnosis or are several years into treatment, our team can help. Reach out to Ascend Autism at (877) 323-8668 to learn more.
