One Size Does Not Fit All: Developing Individualized Treatment
Protocols for Children with Autism
Laura Schreibman, Ph.D., University of
California, San Diego
Treatment outcome research consistently shows a great deal of
variability in outcome for children receiving even the best of
behavioral interventions. What is needed is a methodology for
identifying which behavioral intervention would lead to the best
outcome for a specific child. Thus how do we tailor our treatments
to the needs of the individual child? Given the importance of early
intervention, how can we make sure we choose the best treatment
initially in order to take advantage of this early window of
opportunity? This presentation will describe recent research
looking at specific child characteristics that may suggest
particular treatment strategies.
Laura Schreibman is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the
University of California, San Diego where she has been on the
faculty since 1984. She earned her Ph.D. at UCLA where she focused
on the field of behavior analysis and treatment of children with
autism. Her research since her degree has continued in the same
vein and she currently directs a federally-funded research program
focusing on the experimental analysis and treatment of autism. Her
general research interests have included the analysis of speech and
attentional deficits, generalization of behavior change, parent
training, self-management, peer training, and issues of assessment.
Her current lines of funded research involve evaluation of
pictorial versus verbal communication teaching strategies for very
young children with autism (funded by NIMH), development of
classroom Pivotal Response Training strategies (funded by the
Department of Education), and the development of individualized
treatments for children with autism and their families. She also
heads a new research program to assess brain correlates to
treatment outcome for infants with autism (a Core of an Autism
Center of Excellence Award funded by the NIH). She is the author of
over 120 research articles and book chapters as well as three
books. Her latest book, The Science and Fiction of Autism,
published by Harvard University Press, was released in November of
2005.
BACB/APA CE credits offered for this
event