44°
Fein's groundbreaking research regarding the optimal outcome in individuals with a history of autism. Although autism spectrum disorders are generally considered lifelong disabilities, literature has suggested that a minority of individuals with the disorder will lose the diagnosis.
She presented the information to educators from the school districts in Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Shelton, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport and Wilton that are part of the Cooperative Educational Services.
The study focused on a group of individuals between the ages of 8 and 21 with documented histories of spectrum disorders diagnosed before the age of 5, including language delays.
These individuals currently have lost their autism symptoms and are no long diagnosable with autism, are in regular education classes or have attended college with no one-on-one assistance or services for social disability.
Fein believes that Applied Behavior Analysis during the ages of 2 to 3 years and in the preschool years is particularly helpful.
“We speculated that some of the mechanisms might be behind this excellent progress including receiving therapies that direct the child’s attention to the social and lingual environment and the structured teaching of skills at an early age, resulting in less overall cognitive and social delay,” Fein said in a statement.
Fein is the Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Connecticut and Professor of Pediatrics in the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She recently co-authored a book on educating children with autism in mainstream classrooms.
The mission of Cooperative Educational Services is to identify and provide quality educational opportunities for educators, students, families and communities in a regional educational service center.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.
