Beginning Intervention: DTT, PRT and ABA

The San Diego Regional Center wasted no time in putting me in touch with the Center for Autism, Research, Evaluation and Service or CARES. Our program Supervisor became a frequent addition to our household. She or her two assistants were at our house everyday for a combined total of fifty-four hours each month for behavioral and educational intervention in the home environment. We focused on Discrete Trial Training, Pivotal Response Training, and Applied Behavior Analysis.

The first observation reads: Jacob's intake took place in his home. During this intake interview Jacob ran around the room waving a stick and making repetitive vocalizations while a video tape (THE WIGGLES) was on in the background. He approached his mother a few times in attempts to get her attention. Jacob's mother reported that Jacob is very affectionate and has only minor behavior problems. Mom reports that Jacob understood a few simple phrases, ("let's go" and "bye bye") and could say a few words (numbers, bye and all done). Jacob is thirty months old.

I remember this day clearly, I was still in shock from the diagnosis, I wanted time to stop so I could process and deal with my potential reality. I remember asking what his prognosis was and being devastated by the answer. Their answer, we can't tell you that, each child progresses differently, some never speak, never hold a job, never have relationships, people can come and go with no response from the child. We prayed every night that our child would speak. If he could just talk, I would be content. I cried a lot, the unknown creates such a defeating feelings with unrest within ones soul.