BRINGING "SIMPLE STEPS" - A MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE FOR AUTISM SPECIFIC BEHAVIOUR THERAPY-TO EUROPE

Individualised behavioural interventions are known to promote development, enhance skills and communication and reduce rigid and stereotypical patterns in children with autism spectrum disorder especially if they start in early pre-school age and are offered in high intensity. In many countries, however, these interventions are not available to families with autistic children. This may be due to lack of funding, lack of qualified staff and/or insufficient traditions of evidence-based procedures in institutions working with autistic children. Facing this situation, the European Union Leonardo Transfer of Innovation Programm funded the adaptation and localisation of a highly successful Northern Irish multimedia tool for England and Scotland, Norway, Spain and Germany. The multimedia package consists of a brochure with basic information on ASD, diagnostics and intervention. In addition, a DVD offers expert interviews, parents’ testimonials and an introduction to autism specific behavioural therapy, well established as Autism Applied Behaviour Analysis in the anglo-american countries. An accompanying CD-ROM contains additional background information and practical tools for therapy implementation. It can be used by parents, kindergarten and school special needs staff and therapeutic institutions for education and for therapy planning and evaluation. In Germany, Spain, Norway and the UK it is offered free of charge under EU funding.