Long way but not there yet. I cannot remember the last time I talked to someone, familiar or new, who had not heard the word autism, spectrum, or known someone on it or closely related to that someone. We are not there yet, though, when it comes to how to help. Call it treatment, educational approach, therapy, coaching. It could be because it is that much harder with a spectrum condition. Individuals are very different, as are their strengths and weaknesses, therefore one can expect that their choices wold have to also differ. Also, mostly families of young children or young adults are making choices for them, based on their own beliefs and experiences, and the information they have access to. What can we do and how to choose when the information is all over the place? We recommend choosing what has been studied scientifically; been through rigorous testing, just like with any medical treatments and educational approaches, it is safest to use what has demonstrated the desired results. Find organizations that do not profit from giving information and making general recommendations and call on those who speak outside of their scope of knowledge and practice. Beware. Unfortunately, it is still a wild world out there.
