Chapter 7: Improving the lives of people with autism A number of interventions for autism have been developed. These are not designed to cure autism but instead to help people with autism become better adjusted to their environments, increase their social skills and improve their quality of life. Applied Behavioural Analysis is used to reinforce desirable behaviours and discourage undesirable ones. The TEACCH educational system was developed to take into account differences in how children with autism perceive the world. Augmentative and Alternative Communication is designed to enable people with severe language difficulties to communicate via other means. There are also some biomedical interventions which tend to be used to treat psychiatric symptoms which can be associated with autism, rather than autism itself. This chapter will consider the various available interventions for autism and how these can lead to improvements in social skills and quality of life.
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