Autism Research Institute
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Dr. Bernard Rimland's unassuming storefront office houses the world-renowned Autism Research Institute, which has improved the lives of thousands of children with autism - bringing relief, hope, and even recovery to families worldwide.
Established in 1967, the San Diego-based nonprofit ARI is world headquarters for research and information on autism and related disorders, and the epicenter of a rapidly growing movement that holds that autism can be treated effectively through intensive behavior modification and a variety of individualized biomedical treatments.
Dr. Rimland's 1964 book, "Infantile Autism: The Syndrome and its Implications for a Neural Theory of Behavior," was responsible for challenging and changing the long-held belief that autism was an emotional disorder caused by poor mothering. Autism is now recognized as a biomedical disorder. Rimland has devoted himself tirelessly to conducting and disseminating the results of research on methods of diagnosing and treating the full spectrum of autism. These treatment modalities, once considered radical, are now gaining wide acceptance as the news spreads about formerly autistic children who have been reclassified as normal.
Dr. Rimland's determination was spawned by his own son's diagnosis of autism, at age two, in 1958. After this discovery, and convinced by his research, Rimland fought hard in the 1960's to advance the cause of early behavioral intervention (commonly known as ABA). While most mainstream professionals rejected it, today - four decades later - they fully accept its value. Now Rimland and his colleagues (who believe that drugs too often cause more harm than good) are pioneering the use of laboratory tests to identify problems in children's metabolism which can be corrected through the use of diets, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other safe and natural substances normally present in the body.
By 1995, the beginning of what is now widely recognized as an epidemic of autism was evident. Recent studies show an 800% increase in cases since 1985. ARI was in the forefront of calling attention to the coming epidemic. Today ARI maintains the world's largest databank of autistic individuals with over 37,000 detailed case histories of autistic children from 60 countries, and is a major source of information on the epidemic and its potential causes.
Together with Sidney Baker, M.D. and Jon Pangborn, Ph.D., Rimland developed the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) project to train physicians and other healthcare professionals how to implement advanced DAN! approaches to the diagnosis and successful treatment of autism. There are now several hundred DAN! physicians worldwide and thousands of children - many of them the sons and daughters of DAN! physicians -- who are no longer diagnosed as autistic and have been mainstreamed into their school systems.
In addition to ARI's tracking, funding, monitoring and implementation of research into the causes and treatments of autism, ARI is engaged in other projects which include:
Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) Think-Tanks and Conferences: DAN! brings together physicians and scientists from around the world to develop advanced methods of diagnosis and treatment. Recommendations based on the DAN! Manual (Biomedical Assessment Options for Children with Autism and Related Problems) have attracted international attention. Follow-up DAN! Conferences and practitioner trainings are held twice a year. "Mini-DAN!" Conferences are offered periodically. Additional information about DAN! can be found at www.danconference.com.
Autism Research Review International (ARRI): This quarterly newsletter provides up-to-date information about developments in the world of autism. The latest autism findings are gleaned from a computer search of the 25,000 scientific and medical articles published every week.
New information emerges daily about autism and its surrounding issues. ARI works diligently to apply the new research findings toward developing methods of helping autistic children and their families now.
ARI provides free and low-cost information to parents, professionals and the media by mail and on its website: www.AutismResearchInstitute.com. A publication list of available books, tapes, videos and articles is available at the ARI website and by mail.
The Autism Research institute is a 501 (C)(3) and is supported by donations from concerned people and organizations. ARI is located at 4182 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116. For more information phone (619) 281-7165, fax (619) 563-6840 or visit www.AutismResearchInstitute.com.
www.abaresources.com
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If you have logged onto this site, it is probably as a result of your experience with or interest in an ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) program for your child, or a child you are working with. This site is devoted to providing ABA resource materials to children involved in an ABA program. Although ABA programs are used primarily for autistic children, ABA is a successful intervention for the "neurotypical" and the special needs population, provided through the public and private sectors.
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My son began a home-based ABA program soon after an official diagnosis was given at the age of 4 ½ years. Although the estimated costs of implementing the home-based ABA program was high (approximately $54 000/year), I refused to allow this to be a barrier to providing a proven effective treatment for my son. However, cost saving strategies would be implemented where possible.
As a mother of an autistic child, and also as a practicing physical therapist involved in teaching and research, understanding my son's program became a primary goal. I was determined to develop the tools on my own to learn more about his home-based ABA program, and save costs where possible. This also provided me the ability to steer my son's program where I felt his deficits were greatest, and at the same time, build on his strengths.
Having the experience of creating and searching for ABA resource materials to implement his program, and recognizing that materials, if available, were costly and limited, it became obvious that a specific site was needed to provide parents the opportunity to obtain ABA resource materials at an affordable cost, and where possible at no charge to the parents. As materials were made for my son's program, an audio training module was developed to teach my son the ability to recognize sounds, non-verbal language cues, and improve attending skills. Research on this method of training is positive. Please visit http://www.autismoregon.com/links.html for additional information.
Eric's success with his home-based ABA program has been more than positive. Within a week of beginning his home-based program, he began to ask questions and demonstrated improved eye contact. He is now able to engage in conversations at a functional level. He continues to gain academic and social skills.
This site offer free and affordable materials specific to a home or school based ABA program. An innovative audio-training module is available through this site, which is the first available to the general public. Please feel free to navigate this site and download free resource materials. Check out the message board for a place where you can get used materials, learn about upcoming conferences/courses, and find therapists.
www.abcteach.com
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We are proud to announce that abcteach has received the Learning ® Magazine 2007 Teachers' Choice SM Award. Our membership site was evaluated by teachers across the United States on the basis of quality, instructional value, ease of use, and innovation. We are honored to receive this award.