Connecting your child with necessary resources and therapy will be critical to supporting their mental and physical development and learning. Given that autism is a spectrum disorder, each child has individual needs and challenges that may be unique to them – please discuss with your primary care provider about the following interventions and which may be appropriate for your child. 

Checklist

☐ Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

This type of therapy is based on understanding how certain situations/environments affect your child’s learning and behavior. The goal is to increase behaviors that are helpful and decrease behaviors that are harmful or affect learning. Techniques used in ABA include positive reinforcement and enforcing consistent consequences for certain behavior.   

☐ Audiology 

Some children with autism struggle with receptive (understanding speech) and expressive (spoken) speech delays and it may be important to rule out possible hearing difficulties as a contributing factor, especially among non- or minimally verbal children. 

☐ Speech Therapy

Early speech intervention for children struggling with communication can help their learning and relieve frustration and behavior problems that can result from it.  

☐ Occupational Therapy (OT)

OT can help improve skills needed for every day functioning for a child such as eating/swallowing, self-care, play, fine motor skills (ex. writing, using utensils or scissors, etc), and problem-solving.  Sensory-seeking behavior and sensitivity to certain stimuli are also common among children with autism.  They can interfere with their ability to engage in certain activities or self-regulate their behaviors and emotions and an occupational therapist can address these challenges. 

☐ Physical Therapy

Some children with autism struggle with gross motor skills which can limit their ability to play and participate in sports. Physical therapists can help your child develop gross motor skills, improve coordination, posture, and body awareness.

☐ 504 Plan or Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) through the public school district if > 3yr

You may request a 504 plan or IEP evaluation through your school district (even if your child is not yet old enough to attend elementary school) which is an agreement between your child and the school that details ways to help optimize their learning. You must make all requests for such evaluations in writing. Your child’s primary care provider or developmental pediatrician who made the diagnosis of autism in your child can assist with this. Through the school district, your child may qualify to receive therapy including ABA, speech, OT, and PT within the school setting. Your child may receive additional accommodations within the classroom (ex. preferential seating near the teacher, modified workload, extended time to complete assignments or exams) and academic support (special education status, pull-outs or push-ins for additional help) that can be helpful for your child’s learning. These educational plans can also be transferred from one level of schooling to the next throughout your child’s academic career (even through college).  

Click here for a IEP vs 504 Plan comparison chart. 

☐ Regional Center (ages 0-18 with confirmed diagnosis of ASD)

The Regional Center provides comprehensive services to individuals and families who are either suspected or confirmed to have developmental disabilities.  After an intake, an Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP for children 0-3 years old) will be established that details developmental goals for your child.  A service coordinator is assigned to each client to help coordinate services to achieve these goals.

Click here for a chart of locations and phone numbers.

☐ Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT)

PCIT can be highly effective in helping your child improve their social skills and decrease oppositional and disruptive behavior such as inflexibility, tantrums, and/or aggression. It involves first teaching parents skills that help increase social and positive behaviors in their children and then implementing those skills in their homes.

☐ Relationship Development Interaction (RDI)

Relationship interventions focus on teaching parents and caretakers to improve their child’s communication and social skills through play. Playing with other children is critical in developing communication skills, ability to read and react to social cues, empathy, and emotional regulation. Please check out RDIconnect.com to search by zip code for relationship development intervention (RDI) therapists near you.

☐ Rady Children’s Affiliated Dental Specialist: 800-788-9029

Some children with autism, especially those with severe symptoms, may find standard dental appointments too overwhelming. Rady Children’s Hospital provides dental care to special needs children who may need some extra TLC for routine cleaning and procedures.