Attention Autism

I read both posts with great interest and am delighted that the Attention Autism programme is being considered. It was not my intention to provide a definition of autism , there are many who are much better qualified to do this than me but in discussing it in outline terms I can see that sensory issues might not be given the approriate profile. It is really imprtant that the whole child is considered and that sensory issues, amongst other potential problems ,are thought through carefully to get the best match possible between intervention and the profile of autism the child is living with and bringing to the learning experience. Sensory issues will have an impact and can support the engagement of the child if used carefully or make it very difficult if the individual becomes anxious, wary or overstimulated. In the attention autism approach we try very hard to offer an iresistable invitation to learn through the use of highly engaing activities, but the leading adult needs to be aware of the overall level of stimulation and develop skills in adapting and modifying the intervention to match and then build sensory tolerances. We have found that high levels of engagement wins sensory tolerance but this should not be taken for granted. Tolerance of any kind costs effort and comes at a cost so the intervention had better be worth it! These factors and many other practical intervention issues are covered in the 2 day Attention Autism training.

I welcome the debate, such discussions can only be to the benefit of intervention and I will think hard about these factors in my next sessions to see if I have got it right...or as close to right as I can!

I read both posts with great interest and am delighted that the Attention Autism programme is being considered. It was not my intention to provide a definition of autism , there are many who are much better qualified to do this than me but in discussing it in outline terms I can see that sensory issues might not be given the approriate profile. It is really imprtant that the whole child is considered and that sensory issues, amongst other potential problems ,are thought through carefully to get the best match possible between intervention and the profile of autism the child is living with and bringing to the learning experience. Sensory issues will have an impact and can support the engagement of the child if used carefully or make it very difficult if the individual becomes anxious, wary or overstimulated. In the attention autism approach we try very hard to offer an iresistable invitation to learn through the use of highly engaing activities, but the leading adult needs to be aware of the overall level of stimulation and develop skills in adapting and modifying the intervention to match and then build sensory tolerances. We have found that high levels of engagement wins sensory tolerance but this should not be taken for granted. Tolerance of any kind costs effort and comes at a cost so the intervention had better be worth it! These factors and many other practical intervention issues are covered in the 2 day Attention Autism training.

I welcome the debate, such discussions can only be to the benefit of intervention and I will think hard about these factors in my next sessions to see if I have got it right...or as close to right as I can!