Therapeutic Early Autism Program

The Therapeutic Early Autism Program (TEAP) provides center-based IBHS (Intensive Behavioral Health Services) to young children with autism spectrum disorder. These services, which utilize the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), are aimed at assessing a young child’s skills and behaviors and providing individualized treatment to meet the needs of each child. TEAP aims to implement treatment that is provided as early as possible and is aimed at enhancing language and communication, social and play skills, pre-academics, and independent living skills of young children so that they may take better advantage of opportunities in their communities and may require less professional attention as they grow older.

Contact Us

Therapeutic Early Autism Program is located at 2400 East Carson Street in Pittsburgh and operates five days a week, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. year-round.

Please call 412-713-0855 or email TEAP@upmc.edu for more information.

Services and Treatment

The program uses applied behavioral analysis within a daily preschool schedule and one-on-one intensive teaching strategies. Activities are individualized to meet each child’s needs and may include:

• Functional Behavior Assessment and Positive Behavior Support Plans to optimize desired behavior change
• Individualized treatment programs to address a child’s cognitive development, language development, self-care and adaptive behavior, and social-emotional development
• Theme-based preschool activities including circle time, centers, gross motor, pretend play, arts & crafts, music & movement, gross motor play, story time, fine motor activities, and sensory play
• Applied Behavior Analysis methods including Discrete Trial Training, an analysis of verbal behavior, and Natural Environment Teaching which allow for individualizing and optimizing instruction to enhance a child’s learning
• Systematic re-evaluation to monitor a child’s developmental and behavioral needs and to measure progress including the Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment & Placement Program (VB-MAPP)
• Enhancing social competence by teaching social skills and play repertoires to support appropriate peer interactions
• An early focus on generalization of each targeted area
• Parent support and education program through regular family meetings that helps parents to enhance their child’s development in targeted areas and support transfer of skills to the home and community
• A referral system linking families to various community services
• Mealtime opportunities to target adaptive skills, food selectivity issues, and socialization

Referral Process

Referrals can be made by contacting the program’s social worker at 412-713-0855 or emailing TEAP@upmc.edu. Referrals are individually evaluated for acceptance into the program. Initial assessments include evaluating symptoms and gathering psychosocial, educational, medical, developmental, and family histories.