Ontario Experts Unveil Scientific Report with Recommendations for New Ontario Autism Program

Evidence-Based Practices for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Report of the Ontario Scientific Expert Taskforce for the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (CNW Group/Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis)

TORONTO, March 31, 2017 /CNW/ - In June 2017, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services will launch the new Ontario Autism Program. To help individuals with autism access quality services that they deserve, the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis (ONTABA) assembled a group of behaviour analysts with prominent research and practice expertise. This expert committee has released a comprehensive scientific report on Evidence-Based Practices for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This report emphasizes:

• Individuals with autism have the right to receive effective, individualized, evidence-based intervention across their lifespan.
   
  
• Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is the gold standard evidence-based intervention for individuals with ASD.
   
  
• The type, intensity, and duration of ABA interventions for individuals with autism should be based on need to maximize the individual's success.
   
  
• Individuals with autism receiving services and their families should be partners in decision-making throughout intervention.

This scientific report was informed by over 2,000 studies and existing practice guidelines. It is intended to help answer critical questions being posed by parents, professionals, and government on how services should be provided for children and youth with autism in Ontario. Specifically, it addresses intensity and duration of services, how the individual's age impacts clinical decision making, and how services should be planned, implemented, supervised, and monitored.

"There is overwhelming evidence that ABA interventions can dramatically improve the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families" said Louis Busch, President of ONTABA. "Individuals should be able to access high quality ABA interventions as needed throughout their lives. In addition to advocating for quick access to high quality individualized behaviour analytic services, we are concerned that children and families are protected from false or misleading claims about effective treatments and from unqualified practitioners."

"We sincerely hope the information in this report will be helpful in very practical ways to families and practitioners as they try to make the best decisions for their children and their clients. We also hope this information will help policy makers use public dollars most effectively to meet the needs of this vulnerable population" said Dr. Julie Koudys, Chair of the Expert Committee.

Download the report at www.ontaba.org

SOURCE Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis

For further information: Interview Contacts: Dr. Julie Koudys, Expert Committee Chair, [e-mail], 416-550-3432; Dr. Adrienne Perry, Expert Committee Member, [e-mail], 416-910-9308; Nancy Marchese, Expert Committee Member, [e-mail], 416-889-7572