This claim is supported by other researchers cited in the work including Albin, Lucyshyn, Horner, & Flannery (1996).
The applied behavioral and positive behavior approach developed by Symon considers individual and family needs for patients with autism as part of the larger system and factors that might influence a child's behaviors, in order to develop more comprehensive support interventions.
The author supports use of applied behavioral analysis procedures where parents would work with their children via a clinic or at home in a controlled setting that encourages one-on-one interaction. The role of the parent in this situation would be to present children with "a variety of discrete instructional tasks" that would require on-step commands. The child participating would be rewarded for giving correct responses and punished for not giving correct ones, in order to train children to respond to different commands and reinforcing positive behavior.
The approach suggested by the author has a high reinforcement level for parents and works as a direct treatment method where parents work with their children in the manner that therapists typically would.
Symon (2001) concludes that interventions geared at the individual and familial level are necessary to serve children and families dealing with autism. Further the author suggests specifically that systematically...
The author also points out that there is a need for continued examination of this approach and expansion of services available to children and families coping with autism.
The study is limited as the techniques suggested have not been available or adequately tested with families living in geographically distant areas from centers specialized in their use. Symon suggests that providing such services would be invaluable and that a need exists for additional effective services and expansion of current services for both patients and families of autistic patients. Development of appropriate intervention programs for families who do not have access to services due to availability or distance issues is a critical component of research according to the author.
References
Schoen, Alexis a. "What Potential Does the applied Behavior Analysis Approach Have for the Treatment of Children and Youth with Autism?" Journal of Instructional Psychology, 30(2), (2003):125
Symon, Jennifer B. "Parent education for autism: Issues in providing services at a distance." Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 3(3), (2001):160
Applied Behavior Analysis
