A Demonstration of Behavioral Support for Young Children with Autism

Abstract

Young children with autism sometimes display severe behavior problems that can cause great disruptions in family life and interfere with attempts to provide needed services. Strategies are needed to resolve these behavior problems in a manner that is effective, durable, and consistent with current approaches to positive, comprehensive, and inclusionary practice in early childhood intervention. This article provides a description of behavioral support as applied in the context of a family-centered early intervention program for young children with autism. Demonstration data are presented to illustrate the effects of the approach in reducing the problem behaviors of six children. The practices and data are discussed in the context of changing perspectives toward early intervention and the prospects of developing effective preventive strategies and functional deterrents to the emergence and occurrence of serious problem behaviors.