Providing parents with the skills and techniques to become ‘super parents’ can dramatically improve their child’s autism, a long-term study has shown

Finally the role of parents has been recognised! This is a message we, at The Giving Tree Foundation, have been advocating for years. ABA intervention offers a comprehensive programme addressing all of the child’s needs, in addition to supporting and training parents. Crucially, intensity of hours is needed.

Key ingredients for success:

1. Super parent
2. Early ABA intervention and
3. Intensity of hours (35 per week)

A well-run programme offers parents training and support and is extremely effective because through positive reinforcement the child is able to do tasks not just on their terms. A prime example of ABA success is our Trustee Cindy-Lee Watts’ daughter who 15 years ago was non-verbal and locked in her own world, but today is a hard working A-Level student who is looking into university options.

Dr. Catherine Aldred, the speech and language consultant mentioned in this article, is right on track with this piece of research. Dr. Lovaas however is light years ahead with similar research conducted over 40 years ago at UCLA. In fact, the UCLA model of intensive ABA as delivered through UK YAP has years of research demonstrating that children receiving ABA made positive gains, however those who made the most significant and sustained improvements were those with the super parent!

Here at TGTF we salute those super parents, as it is only through hard work and dedication that such improvements are achieved. As a charity we continue to advocate for early ABA interventions in conjunction with the intense involvement of parents here in the UK, a practice that is widely recognised and available in the USA.

Read the article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-37729095