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Parents' experiences of applied behaviour analysis ( ABA )‐based interventions for children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder
Author(s) -
McPhilemy Catherine,
Dillenburger Karola
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of special education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.349
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1467-8578
pISSN - 0952-3383
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8578.12038
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , psychology , feeling , autism spectrum disorder , developmental psychology , social skills , autism , gross motor skill , clinical psychology , psychiatry , motor skill , social psychology
Applied behaviour analysis ( ABA )‐based programmes are endorsed as the gold standard for treatment of children with autistic spectrum disorder ( ASD ) in most of N orth A merica. This is not the case in most of Europe, where instead a non‐specified ‘eclectic’ approach is adopted. We explored the social validity of ABA ‐based interventions with 15 E uropean families who had experience with home‐based, mainly self‐managed, ABA ‐based programmes for their own child/ren with ASD . The results of the study highlighted the overwhelmingly positive impact that ABA ‐based interventions had on their children in areas such as social skills, challenging behaviour, communication, gross and fine motor skills, concentration, interaction, independence, overall quality of life and, most importantly, a feeling of hope for the future. Implications for E uropean policy on ASD are discussed.