The Autism Society of America's Panel of Professional Advisors
establishes...

Guidelines To Evaluate Theories and Practices

Listed here are a few of the things to consider as you evaluate treatment
options:


Will the treatment result in harm to the child?

How will failure of the treatment affect my child and family?

Has the treatment been validated scientifically?

Are there assessment procedures specified?

How will the treatment be integrated into the child's current program?
Do not become so infatuated with a given treatment that functional
curriculum, vocational life and social skills are ignored.


In addition, consider the following questions when asking about specific
treatments (compiled by the National Institute of Mental Health):


How successful has the program been for other children?

How many children have gone on to placement in a regular school and
how have they performed?

Do staff members have training and experience in working with
children and adolescents with autism?

How are activities planned and organized?

Are there predictable daily schedules and routines?

How much individual attention will my child receive?

How is progress measured?

Will my child's behavior be closely observed and recorded?

Will my child be given tasks and rewards that are personally
motivating?

Is the environment designed to minimize distractions?

Will the program prepare me to continue the therapy at home?

What is the cost, time commitment, and location of the program?


Parents need to be in the know about:

about potential side effects of treatment

keep lines of communication open between families and physician
even if do not agree on treatment

families should keep doctor informed of treatments so the patient can
be monitored for side effects

if physician not comfortable prescribing a treatment, family should find
out why and discuss this with their family members physician and
share information with the physician so they can be better informed


Questions to ask a therapist:

How long have you been using this?

How many people have you treated?

How many children have you treated
who are similar to my child?

How were you trained in using this
therapy? Who trained you? How long
did this training last? What
qualifications are needed to be
trained?

Can I see your certificate?

Does anyone monitor your
performance of this therapy?

Will you consult with the child’s
primary doctor?

Is the therapy unsuitable for certain
people?

How will you tell this is successful?

How will you compare his behavior
before and after?

How will we know if the change is
long lasting?

How did you decide this therapy is
appropriate for my child?


Other questions to consider RE: Programming:

How much will this cost in total?

Where will it take place?

When will it take place

Do I have to pay for it in advance?

What if we do not complete the
therapy?

Will there be a written agreement
about the terms and conditions of
therapy?

If my child’s condition does not
change after therapy, can I have my
money back?

Can you give me references of other
families with similar children that you
have treated?

Source: http://www.disabilitygoto.com/