Theiss Child Development Center
Early Autism Program
Early intensive intervention can have profound and long-term effects on child development. The Theiss Child Development Center Early Autism Program provides intensive, evidence-based treatment in a preschool (partial hospitalization) setting for children diagnosed with autism.
The program serves children, ages 2 to 5, who have been diagnosed with autism or who are suspected to have autism.
Diagnostic Assessment
A psychiatrist, psychologist, and social worker evaluate all children before beginning the program. This assessment includes evaluating symptoms and gathering psychosocial, educational, medical, developmental, and family histories.
Services and Treatment
The program uses applied behavioral analysis and one-on-one intensive teaching strategies. Activities are individualized to meet each child’s needs and may include:
- socialization activities
- individualized treatment programs to address a child’s cognitive development, language development, self-care and adaptive behavior, and social-emotional development
- discrete trial training, which is a method for individualizing and simplifying instruction to enhance a child’s learning
- systematic re-evaluation to monitor a child’s developmental and behavioral needs and to measure progress
- enhancing social competence by teaching social skills and helping a child to interact appropriately with peers
- parent support and an education program that helps parents enhance their child’s development in targeted areas
- a referral system linking families to community services
- a nutritionally balanced breakfast and snacks to supplement a child’s lunch