| Sample Treatment Program
The CARD Program recommends that 1:1 behavioral therapy be administered initially in the home setting, and then generalized to other settings such as school. The techniques used in teaching are based on Applied Behavior Analytic practices such as Discrete Trial Teaching and the content of instruction covers a wide range of skill areas such as speech and language skills, gross and fine motor skills, academic skills, self-care, and most importantly, socialization skills.
The CARD early intervention plan typically consists of intensive treatment in which basic skills are taught in the first years and advanced social and language skills are taught in the final years. CARD treatment is typically allocated in the following manner, allowing variance depending on each child's particular symptoms and rapidity of learning.
The following features characterize the treatment received by all CARD clients;
- treatment is individualized and comprehensive; all skill domains are addressed (language, social, adaptive and academic);
- the principles of behavior analysis are used to build functional skills and reduce challenging behaviors;
- individuals with experience in autism and advanced training in ABA supervise treatment;
- the learning objectives are age appropriate;
- one-to-one therapy is initially administered in the home then generalized to other settings such as school or a group format;
- treatment is intensive: 20-40 hours of therapy per week;
- children receive at least 2 years of service; and
- children start treatment between 20-59 months old.
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Services |
Skills Taught |
YEAR ONE |
40 hours of 1:1 in-home behavioral intervention. |
Simple compliance, self-help, motor imitation, receptive and expressive object and action labeling, simple requests, and basic toy manipulation. |
YEAR TWO |
5-10 hours of preschool with a CARD shadow targeting social skills, and 30-35 hours of 1:1 in-home intervention. |
Complex skills including imaginary play, describing and complex language, emotion recognition, and basic cause and effect, with an emphasis on generalization. |
YEAR THREE |
15 hours of general-education Kindergarten with a CARD shadow, targeting attention, classroom behavior, academics, and social development, and 20 hours of 1:1 in-home behavioral intervention. |
Abstract skills such as abstract reasoning, senses, observational learning, and social skills are targeted. |
YEAR FOUR |
30 hours of attendance in general education First Grade, and 10-15 hours of in-home therapy. |
The final treatment year should focus entirely on social skills and academic achievement in first grade. Typically, theory of mind and executive functioning skills, understanding cause and effect relationships, and comprehending social cues are the primary focus. In addition, parent and teacher training is completed so that treatment gains may be maintained after therapy is terminated. |
Unique Characteristics of CARD
CARD strives to provide comprehensive treatment services to children with autism. While CARD excels in its basic ABA program, it also offers numerous specialty programs that add to our success:
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CARD remains fully focused on the treatment of each child as an individual, and insists that each program be flexible and tailored to the patient. |
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The parents of CARD patients are considered an integral part of the treatment team. They are fully trained in the program and are required to participate in the maintenance and generalization of mastered skills. Parents must be fully committed to their child's treatment in order to access CARD services. |
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In order to promote optimal generalization, CARD therapy services are provided in the homes and schools of the patients. |
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Regular program monitoring and supervision is considered an essential component of each patient's program. The patient, parents and entire therapy team meet 2-4 times per month to discuss the progress of the patient, advance the program where needed, conduct parent training, and provide skill reinforcement to CARD therapy staff. |
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CARD's commitment to each child is evident by regular supervision, frequent parent contact, collaboration with teachers and district representatives and regular meetings with adjunct therapy providers including occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians, and physicians. |
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CARD aggressively troubleshoots for those patients not progressing in the program. Each child’s program is constantly monitored and adjusted in order to assure the best possible rate of learning. |
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Standardized assessments conducted by independent assessors demonstrate that a significant percentage of CARD's patients who receive intensive intervention and begin services at or before the age of 42 months are without identifiable symptoms and are fully mainstreamed into typical educational settings when services are terminated. |
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CARD utilizes a comprehensive alternative communication program to ensure that non-vocal children have effective means of communication. This program incorporates the Picture Exchange Communication System and an advanced reading/literacy program developed at CARD. |
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CARD Supervisors are certified by Scientific Learning Corporation to provide and monitor the Fast ForWord program that is designed to improve the phonological procession of children with autism and developmental disorders. |
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CARD has created programs to address advanced cognitive deficits that include a variety of Executive Functioning exercises derived from the most current autism literature. |
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CARD has created programs to address advanced socialization deficits that incorporate the latest research pertaining to development of these skills. |
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