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Why autism education needs to change

Zoe Thompson

Our kids have missed the developmental steps that enable them to think and respond adaptively in social situations (which are everywhere in life).  Schools need to help our kids to develop these competencies otherwise they are at an unfair disadvantage compared with their typically developing peers.

In my blog, I discuss why teaching 'social skills' is not enough (and doesnt work).

http://notnigellanotjamie.blogspot.com/2011/03/why-teaching-social-skills-doesnt-work.html

Blog includes a hilarious clip of 2 toddlers having a non-verbal 'conversation'.

Enjoy!

Zoe  x

Parents

  • I am a little bit confused by the description of RDI as an ABA.  My understanding of the RDI approach is, as is explained by Morris on the Autism Help site http://www.autism-help.org/intervention-relationship-development-1.htm, that RDI differs from ABA in that "instead of trying to directly alter behavior, RDI focuses on cultivating the building blocks of social connection - such as referencing, emotion sharing, and experience sharing - that normally develop in infancy and early childhood". As Zoe has explained very eloquently above, it is about providing the child with opportunities for engagement in the way any parent does with their children across cultures, not about trying to get the child to do something. It is about going back over the developmental steps that have been missed in order for the child to develop flexible, adaptive thinking....

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  • I am a little bit confused by the description of RDI as an ABA.  My understanding of the RDI approach is, as is explained by Morris on the Autism Help site http://www.autism-help.org/intervention-relationship-development-1.htm, that RDI differs from ABA in that "instead of trying to directly alter behavior, RDI focuses on cultivating the building blocks of social connection - such as referencing, emotion sharing, and experience sharing - that normally develop in infancy and early childhood". As Zoe has explained very eloquently above, it is about providing the child with opportunities for engagement in the way any parent does with their children across cultures, not about trying to get the child to do something. It is about going back over the developmental steps that have been missed in order for the child to develop flexible, adaptive thinking....

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