PALO ALTO, Calif-- Are you the parent of a child on the autism spectrum? Would you like to learn techniques for working with your child to facilitate language and social development?
 
If so, you may be eligible for a new group aimed at teaching parents of children with autism ‘Pivotal Response Training’ (PRT). The techniques learned through PRT are a naturalistic form of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). They enable parents to interact with their child therapeutically during natural interactions and daily family routines.

Who:	Parents of children ages 1-5 years, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.
What:	Pivotal Response Training for parents of children with autism.
When:	5-6:30pm Tuesdays, for 10 weeks, beginning October 2, with new 10-week groups ongoing afterwards.
Where:	Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, 401 Quarry Road, Palo Alto.
Phone:	650-498-9111 for general information and enrollment eligibility.

About Pivotal Response Training
“Our team is quite excited about this new treatment group,” said Mendy Boettcher, PhD, who will be leading the sessions. “The techniques learned through Pivotal Response Training have empirically supported efficacy in promoting language and social development in children with autism.” Dr. Boettcher added that young children on the autism spectrum face communication and social challenges that are often very stressful for families. “While children may have intensive intervention and preschool programs,” said Dr. Boettcher, a psychologist in the hospital’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic,“ parents often feel ill equipped to facilitate and promote their child’s development when the child is not in therapy. Through naturalistic teaching strategies, such as Pivotal Response Training, children gain skills in natural contexts and parents feel empowered in working with their children.  These procedures are especially effective in teaching a child language and social skills, even during natural interactions and daily family routines.”