A Functional Developmental Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Historically, severe developmental disabilities, including autism, have been approached from the point of view of presenting symptoms as well as the overall syndrome. Although individual practitioners, such as speech pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, and educators have worked with the child's individual capacities, a developmentally based functional approach has not been sufficiently articulated and systematized to guide assessment, intervention, and research efforts. In this article, we describe a dynamic, developmental model that conceptualizes the child's functional emotional developmental capacities, individual differences in sensory processing and modulation, motor planning and sequencing, as well as child/caregiver and family interaction patterns. Because each child with developmental challenges is unique, the functional developmental approach will capture the child's special strengths and challenges, as well as provide a more comprehensive and individualized framework for clinical work with a child and his or her family.