| Children with autism not only have trouble | | | | Parents and their children are referred to MAC by |
| communicating socially, but may also have | | | | their pediatricians; first they complete a |
| problems behaving. The goal of speech therapy is | | | | questionnaire, and then the children are evaluated |
| to improve all aspects of communication including | | | | by the staff at the autism center. Having all |
| auditory processing. | | | | services under one roof allows the parents to |
| Speech therapy sessions will vary greatly | | | | leave the appointment at MAC with a therapy |
| depending upon the child and the therapist. For | | | | plan and a list of resources. |
| example, the Direct Instruction language program | | | | Vermont Rural Autism Project |
| called Language for Learning may be helpful for | | | | A different model of an autism center can be |
| teaching spoken language to school aged children | | | | found in Vermont. The Vermont Rural Autism |
| with autism. This program is typically directed | | | | Project uses applied family-centered practice |
| towards children aged 10-11 and includes daily 20 | | | | during speech and language therapy. Applied |
| minute sessions. One study found that after just | | | | family-centered practice is a specific intervention |
| three months of this type of therapy, children | | | | developed in the late 1980s that encourages |
| with autism were able to correctly say words to | | | | therapists to include parents and families as part |
| identify certain objects. | | | | of the therapy program. Families are encouraged |
| Medical Autism Clinic in Alabama | | | | to participate and collaborate with therapists. The |
| Many scientific studies have demonstrated that | | | | Vermont Rural Autism Project was a 3-year |
| most forms of speech therapy are able to | | | | project that started as a family-centered |
| improve the communication skills of children with | | | | program with specially-trained speech therapists. |
| autism and most autism centers offer some form | | | | Working closely with families can be challenging for |
| of speech therapy. For example, the Medical | | | | some speech therapists. Some families may be |
| Autism Clinic (MAC) affiliated with the University | | | | overly critical of the therapist and others may be |
| of Alabama, Birmingham, was created to be a | | | | unwilling to help in the therapy. Some therapists |
| roadmap for parents as they deal with the | | | | and families, however, are able to connect in |
| diagnosis of autism. MAC localizes specialists in | | | | special ways that are incredibly beneficial to the |
| genetics, nutrition, occupational therapy, speech | | | | child. |
| therapy, rehabilitation, sleep disorders and | | | | Learning More about Speech Therapy |
| audiology in to expedite the evaluation of children | | | | Autism is a condition covered under the United |
| with autism. While all these areas are supported at | | | | States' Individuals with Disabilities Education Act |
| MAC, special emphasis is given to feeding, | | | | (IDEA) of 2004. The cost of speech therapy is |
| sensory, motor, sleep, gastrointestinal and | | | | often covered by the government through this |
| nutritional issues. MAC attempts to address these | | | | act. |
| problems in a thorough and interdependent way. | | | | |