Autism New Jersey Position Statement Treatment Recommendations
[Adopted by the Autism New Jersey Board of Trustees on August 20, 2002; Revised on January 24, 2004]
Since its founding in 1965, Autism New Jersey’s primary mission has been to ensure that all people with autism receive appropriate, effective services. To attain this goal, Autism New Jersey provides information, education, and advocacy services. These services develop, improve, and expand programs for individuals with autism. Autism New Jersey is an organization whose members may espouse different philosophies and use various treatment modalities. Because of the diversity of methods that are considered and/or used in the treatment of autism, it is important to clarify Autism New Jersey’s position regarding the treatment of autism as it pertains to education and other clinical efforts. Autism New Jersey does so in order to inform its members, other organizations, government officials, and the greater public. Those charged with improving the lives of individuals with autism have a complex task in terms of understanding, implementing, and evaluating treatments. While Autism New Jersey’s primary role is to educate parents and professionals so that they can make independent and informed decisions, Autism New Jersey also endorses the use of treatments that are individualized, positive, science-based, and shown to be effective. Why use science as a guide when deciding upon treatments for children with autism? Parents and professionals need a framework for decision-making that can provide 1) criteria to choose among interventions and 2) mechanisms to determine progress or lack thereof. Given that treatment should produce measurable skill gains, a system of accountability is essential. Such accountability is easily established when we use the structure and process that science offers. What is behavioral science? The scientific process includes testing hypotheses in a controlled manner to identify systematic relationships between an intervention and changes in a person’s behavior. Meanwhile, alternative explanations are systematically ruled out
based on careful analysis of observational data. In other words, all likely explanations for a change in a person’s behavior are explored. It is likely that only one or a few interventions are the actual cause for the change in behavior. For example, if social interactions increase following behavioral treatment, other interventions such as dietary or medication changes also would have to be evaluated as the possible cause of change. Science
Good science is not determined by popularity, longevity, or unsubstantiated claims…the scientific method has built-in checks and balances.
relies on direct observation and objective measurement of a phenomenon, systematic arrangements of events, procedures to rule out alternative explanations for what is observed, and repeated demonstrations (called replications) by individuals working independently of one another. Good science is not determined by popularity, longevity, or unsubstantiated claims. While no method is guaranteed to predict success, the scientific method does have built-in checks and balances. The scientific method emphasizes objective data, independent replication, and critical peer review. These processes increase the likelihood that the results are valid.
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