Fwd: ABA on ABC's Nightline: To Find The Words

March 9, 2001

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In a message dated 3/9/01 2:46:00 PM, listeditor@... writes:

<< TONIGHT'S SUBJECT: An intensive early intervention treatment for autism.

The story of two families and two autistic young boys -- each enrolled in

this therapy. It's expensive, it's exhausting, and it's nearly

all-consuming for the families. But for children with little to no ability

to communicate -- what is a word worth?

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Watching a baby grow into toddlerhood is one of life's most breathtaking

dramas. As a friend of mine once described it, his son arrived on this

planet like an alien who knew nothing of our world -- he couldn't speak

the language or express himself at all. And within a year or two, he

pretty much knew everything. He had opinions about what he wanted to eat

and wear and do. And with language skills that seemed to grow

exponentially by the day, he could communicate those desires to his

parents.

But for parents of children with autism, this commonplace drama is

mysteriously out of reach. Autism is usually diagnosed in the second and

third years of life, as typically developing children of the same age

begin to advance by leaps and bounds into little beings who communicate

quite efficiently -- often infuriatingly so. But to children with autism

and their parents, the frustration of those toddler years is something

else altogether. Why can't their beautiful children communicate with them

and the world around them? And more importantly, can they be helped?

Tonight's broadcast focuses on one kind of treatment for autism called

Applied Behavior Analysis. It is an intense, expensive course of therapy,

involving countless hours of repeated exercises. In this broadcast you

will meet two families, equally devoted to reaching their children locked

in the mysterious world of autism. As you will see, Applied Behavior

Analysis can help some autistic children achieve stunning success. But

the sad truth is that not all children enrolled in this treatment make

such enormous advancements. Some are helped just a little bit, some not at

all. But how do you measure the value of these advances, big or small? As

one parent of an autistic child enrolled in this treatment told me -- her

child couldn't say " Mommy, I love you. " And now he can.

This broadcast is a labor of love for the producer and the correspondent,

each of whom has a personal connection to this disorder. The producer has

an autistic son, and the correspondent has an autistic brother-in-law. As

they know, there are no easy answers for autism, and this broadcast does

not try to offer any. The treatment we describe tonight is controversial,

as you will come to understand as you see the broadcast. It is also not

the only treatment type available. It is hope, if not a promise. And for

any parent whose child needs help, hope is a great deal indeed.

We hope you will join us.

Sara Just

Senior Producer

" Nightline " Office

Washington, D.C.

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