While many treatments, options, and methods are supported through anecdotal evidence, currently the only scientifically recognized method for effective treatment of children with autism is an applied behavioral analysis (ABA) program.

Sometimes called UCLA Model ABA or ALovaas therapy,@ ABA is a highly effective treatment for autistic children of all age groups. It is a positive step by step method of teaching a wide variety of skills to help individuals with autism to reach their optimum potential. ABA treatment has enabled autistic children to reach levels once thought impossible. It involves performing a careful functional assessment of behaviors and designing appropriate intervention strategies. Data is kept and recorded so that necessary adjustments to the teaching procedures can be made to maximize learning. It is highly individualized. Tasks are broken into small components and systematically taught by using positive reinforcement. Skills are then developed into functional repertoires. By teaching children to imitate, observe, look and listen, they can develop the skills to participate in typical learning situations and can then benefit from inclusion with typically developing peers. In essence, an ABA program teaches autistic children how to learn.

Autism is a complex disorder and each individual is unique. ABA should be the foundation treatment; however, many individuals with autism do need and benefit from the addition of other treatment options which meet their unique individual needs.

There have been many studies supporting Intensive Behavioral Intervention. The first large-scale scientific study for autism with sound experimental design and controls was conducted at UCLA from 1970-1984. significant environments (especially the home). It involved the parents extensively and focused on very young children with autism. Given an average of 40 hours per week of one-on-one treatment for two or more years, 47% of the children recovered to the point of being indistinguishable from their normally developing peers. And additional 42% achieved substantial gains versus a control group. The UCLA Young Autism Project is currently being replicated at various sites worldwide. (See current replication sites).