Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children

The University of North Carolina TEACCH Autism Program creates and disseminates community-based services, training programs, and research for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to enhance the quality of life for them and their families across the lifespan.[1]

The University of North Carolina TEACCH Autism Program
(TEACCH)
Formation1971
Location
Official language
English
Director
Laura Klinger
Parent organization
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Websitewww.teacch.com

Overview

The Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) philosophy recognizes autism as a lifelong condition and does not aim to cure but to respond to autism as a culture.[2] Core tenets of the TEACCH philosophy include an understanding of the effects of autism on individuals; use of assessment to assist program design around individual strengths, skills, interests and needs; enabling the individual to be as independent as possible; working in collaboration with parents and families.[3]

Strategies

The emphasis on individualization means that TEACCH does not distinguish between people with very high skill levels and those with learning disabilities. Strategies used are designed to address the difficulties faced by all people with autism, and be adaptable to whatever style and degree of support is required.[2] TEACCH methodology is rooted in behavior therapy, more recently combining cognitive elements,[4] guided by theories suggesting that behavior typical of people with autism results from underlying problems in perception and understanding. The strategies put forward by TEACCH do not work on the behavior directly, but on its underlying reasons, such as lack of understanding of what the person is expected to do or what will happen to them next, and sensory under- or over-stimulation.[5] By addressing communication deficits, the person will be supported to express their needs and feelings by means other than challenging behavior.[6]

Working from the premise that people with autism are predominantly visual learners, intervention strategies are based around physical and visual structure, schedules, work systems and task organization. Individualized systems aim to address difficulties with communication, organisation, generalisation, concepts, sensory processing, change and relating to others.[7] Whereas some interventions focus on addressing areas of weakness, the TEACCH approach works with existing strengths and emerging skill areas.[3][8]

International recognition

Most of the literature is of North American origin. The adoption of the TEACCH approach has been slower elsewhere. In 1993, Jones et al.[9] stated that there was insufficient use of the TEACCH approach in the UK to include it in their study of interventions.[10] In 2003 it was reported that Gary B. Mesibov and Eric Schopler describe TEACCH as the United Kingdom's most common intervention used with children with autism. In Europe and the United States it is also a common intervention.[11]

TEACCH runs conferences in North Carolina and organizes programs throughout the US and in the UK.[2][12]

Program effectiveness

Jordan describes the literature on TEACCH as providing ‘very positive, but not remarkable, results’.[13] A 2013 meta-analysis indicated that TEACCH has small or no effects on perceptual, motor, verbal, cognitive, and motor functioning, communication skills, and activities of daily living. There were positive effects in social and maladaptive behavior, but these results required further replication due to the methodological limitations of the pool of studies analyzed.[14]

History

The TEACCH approach was developed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, originating in a child research project begun in 1964 by Eric Schopler and Robert Reichler. The results of this pilot study indicated that the children involved made good progress,[15] and consequently state finance supported the formation of Division TEACCH.[2]

Founded in 1971 by Eric Schopler, TEACCH provides training and services geared to helping autistic children and their families cope with the condition.[2][16] Gary B. Mesibov, a professor and researcher on UNC's TEACCH program since about 1979, was director of the program from 1992 to 2010.[17][18]

With over 40 years of experience of working with autistic people, TEACCH methodology continues to evolve, refining its approach.[2][16] It is a "pioneering" program for assisting with autism spectrum disorder education, research and service delivery for children and adults.[18]

References
  1. "Our Mission and Vision | TEACCH® Autism Program". teacch.com. Retrieved 2019-03-26.
  2. Mesibov GB, Shea V, Schopler E (2004). The TEACCH Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer. ISBN 978-0-306-48646-3.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Philosophy and Overview. TEACCH, University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  4. Sallows, G. (2000). "Educational Interventions for Children with Autism in the UK". Early Child Development and Care. 163 (1): 25–47. doi:10.1080/0300443001630103.
  5. Cox, R. & Schopler, E. (1993). "Aggression and Self-Injurious Behaviours in Persons with Autism – The TEACCH Approach". Acta Paedopsychiatrica. 56 (2): 85–90. PMID 8135116.
  6. Watson, L. (1985). 'The TEACCH Communication Curriculum' in E. Schopler and G. Mesibov (eds) Communication Problems in Autism. New York: Plenum. ISBN 978-0-306-41859-4.
  7. Mesibov, G. & Howley, M. (2003). Accessing the Curriculum for Pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorders: Using the TEACCH Programme to Help Inclusion. London: David Fulton. ISBN 978-1-85346-795-0.
  8. Watkins, A. (2001). 'A Home-based Applied Behavioural Analysis Programme' in J. Richer and S. Coates (eds) Autism: The Search for Coherence. London: Jessica Kingsley. ISBN 978-1-85302-888-5.
  9. Jones, G. with Meldrum, E. and Newson, E. (1993). A Descriptive and Comparative Study of Interventions for Children with Autism: Summary Report. Birmingham: University of Birmingham.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. Jordan, R., Jones, G. and Murray, D. (1998). Educational Interventions for Children with Autism: A Literature Review of Recent and Current Research. Sudbury: DfEE. ISBN 978-0-85522-838-5.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. Fletcher-Campbell, Felicity. Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communications Handicapped Children (TEACCH). in: Review of the research literature on educational interventions for pupils with autistic spectrum disorders. National Foundation for Educational Research. February 2003. p. 11.
  12. TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped CHildren). National Autistic Society. Retrieved on 2007-11-16.
  13. Jordan, R. (2002). Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the Early Years – A Guide for Practitioners. Lichfield: Qed.
  14. Virues-Ortega J.; Julio F.; Pastor R. (2013). "The TEACCH program for children and adults with autism: A meta-analysis of intervention studies". Clinical Psychology Review. 33 (8): 940–953. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2013.07.005. PMID 23988454.
  15. Schopler, E. & Reichler, R. (1971). "Parents as Co-therapists in the Treatment of Psychotic Children". Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia. 1 (1): 87–102. doi:10.1007/BF01537746. PMID 5172443.
  16. Schopler to be honored with APF lifetime achievement award. Archived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine University of North Carolina Health Care. April 10, 2006. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  17. Gary B. Mesibov. Hunter College. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  18. Gary Mesibov to step down as director of UNC’s TEACCH program. University of North Carolina School of Medicine. Retrieved September 14, 2012.

Further reading

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