Discrete Trials Training

There have been several recent articles on autism in the NY Times in which the importance of early intervention (before age 3) has been mentioned.  They make passing reference, for example to the only empirically validated treatment, known as Discrete Trials Training, in a recent 12/14 article.  A huge problem is that parents (and schools) are unable to find therapists who know how to do this type of therapy.  The other problem is getting schools to pay for the proper number of hours per week that are indicated for successful treatment (at least 30 hours/week according to studies by Lovaas in California).  Many school districts will offer only 10 hours per week which is usually not enough.

Here in Keene, NH we have again been using the College as a terrific source of free labor:  Motivated undergraduate students.  We brought local behavioral consultant John Moran, Ed.D. on board as an Adjunct Prof. to train Psychology students as part of an applied practicum in psychology.  John has personally trained over 40 students in the past few years, many of whom are delivering discrete trials to children with autism in the Keene area.  In many cases, they do so in return for course credit only!

In a future MP3 file I will present information about this program.  The big idea:  Use College students as a source of therapists, whether it be peer mentors for Asperger's Syndrome or discrete trials trainers for early childhool autism.

Comments

[Amber Warcewicz]

The peer mentoring is a great thing for people with this disorder, who feel like they dont have anyone else. Like helping them with social skills and anger issues and time management. It really sounds like the people who have autism or aspergers really appreciate the help that they are recieving.
-Amber Warcewicz

[Missy Mengual]

I believe peer mentoring is a great idea for people who suffer from this. This enables them to be able to talk to someone their own age and know that people want to be able to help and treat them as if they are not alone. This is a positive exerpience and believe both people get a great deal out of it.

[Laura Palladino]

Peer mentoring is definately a good idea. It helps not only build valuable social skills with people around their age level, but it can also help with self-esteem. I'm glad keene has programs, cost free programs at that.

[Kristy Perry]

Peer mentoring is an excellent way to educate young people about this disorder. By helping others, they are not only positively affecting the life of another directly, but in a way they are also contributing to the research about the disorder.

[Breanne Lucey]

Peer mentoring is essential for someone diagnosed with aspergers or autism. Most therapies and programs are very costly, and this can be offered to anyone who doesn't really have the money to invest in high upper level treatment, and it's local and performed right on campus. THe only problem I can see from this is getting the right number of people to volunteer to be peer mediators, but the more aware we all become of aspergers and autism the higher the number of volunteers I think we will recieve.

[Lori Blair]

I believe that peer mentoring is a great asset for someone with aspergers or autism. When students are peer mentors for people with disabilities it not only enables them to help someone else but they also get a great experience and learn a lot about the persons disorder in which they can then in turn share with others. By doing this it makes it so people are not scared of differences which i believe is essential in our schools.

[Stephanie Rascona]

I think every school should have some type of program like peer mentoring. It is great for students who have no one else to turn too. Even though the student doesn't have a disorder I still beleive that their should be a person he or she can go to to ask questions or recieve guidance in a certain area. This is also a great idea for those who have a disorder. It is nice to talk to someone your own age and not have to worry about being judged.

[Erin Landon]

This is a great program and i think that all schools should have this as an option for these students, so they know they will have someone to turn to.

[Andy Sylvia]

Well Larry, it looks like i'll have to be the Devil's Advocate here since i'm not taking a class with where I need to suck up for a good grade.

"I think that the peer mentoring is a bad idea, Larry and Linda should spend that money on more wierd ass statues around the campus of KSC and a new helicopter for the psychology department."

Now isn't that a more memorable post than all these "I think Peer Mentoring is good, blah, blah, blah" posts?

Your Friendly Neighborhood AS guy,

Andy

[Jessica Balsam]

I think that peer mentoring is a really good idea for students with Asperger's Syndrome. I am glad that KSC offers it. It is good for the person with the disorder to interact with someone else, and feel like they are not alone. They want to fit in a communmicate so badly, that this would really help them

[Dave]

RE: your future podcast on this issue: I would be more interested in learning more about what you see the limitations of discrete trial training...perhaps an explication of fundamental assumptions underlying its practice (i.e., behaviorism)...are students made aware of these before being recruited to implement?