AWARENESS ABOUT AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

AN INTERVIEW WITH A CERTIFIED APPLIED BEHAVIOUR ANALYST.

In recent times, there has been more awareness about autism spectrum disorder. However, quite a number of people still have limited knowledge about it. For this reason, April was declared the autism awareness month to focus on the importance of enhancing the quality of life of those with autism so that they can have purposeful lives as an integral part of society.

In this interview, Mr Adewale, a seasoned behaviour analyst, and founder of BRAE Assessment Centre talks more about the awareness of autism spectrum disorder.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

It is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s communication and behaviour.

What Causes Autism?

Some people say it’s genetic, while some say it’s generational, but all these are not causes. However, based on research and a recent article, it’s a developmental disability. Autism is caused by irregularities in the brain structure. 

What Are the Early Signs of Autism?

Most children with autism grow and develop as normal children up to age 2. They blab or use words like mama, play and label some of their toys, or call names. They point at people, and give eye contact. However, all the developed skills begin to drop till they lose every skill. This becomes apparent by the time they clock age 3. For some other children, the signs are noticeable when they are babies; no eye contact, often looking at a particular thing in an unusual way.

The early signs are; avoiding eye contact, delayed speech, preferring to play in isolation all the time, hyperactivity (often on the go or jumping and climbing).

How Can Parents Care for A Child with Autism?

Parents can make a lot of difference with their children’s diets. Some parents do not like to hear this. I respond to such parents telling them ‘You are what you eat.’ If neurotypical children or adults can react to some foods, so also children with autism. Therefore, their diet must be managed.

Again, parents must be involved in their child’s program. Understanding your child’s treatment plan and being able to implement it must be taken seriously. At BRAE Therapy, we make sure they are involved by sending them their child’s treatment plan and guidelines on how to implement any outlined tasks. 

What behavioural problems to look out for like I mentioned somewhere above; little or no eye contact, independent play (difficult in interacting), obsessive attachment, restlessness, unable to settle down for a while, sensitivity to sound, hand flapping, often crying, spinning, tiptoeing and many more.

Are There Treatments Available for Autism?

  Yes. One of the treatments for autism ‘Behaviour Therapy, (Applied Behaviour Analysis). It’s a gold standard to treat autism. The reasons are these: 

1. You can start the program with your child as early as possible.
2. It is provided intensively for multiple hours per week
3. It addresses the core symptoms of autism like; communication, social skills, sensory dysfunction, attention issues, emotional regulations and many more.
4. It supports with the academical aspect in terms of academic tasks, simplicity, and teaching. 
5. It has clear goals and milestones of one year which can either be reviewed within six months of implementation or at the end of the year.   

You Run a Centre that Caters to Special Needs Children. How has that Been?

It has been great. I mean we have had some success stories like helping them build their vocabularies; from blabbing to one word, two-word phrases, and simple sentences. We have some children that are now attending mainstream school after they achieved some functional skill set. We started with them by building their sitting tolerance, attention span, interactions, and taking instruction from the group as well as participating in group activities. We have some middle-tiers that are attempting entrance exams for secondary school. We put some Teenagers with autism on vocational training; I have some of them that I am proud of.  

What kind of services do you Render?

We render services such as behaviour therapy, school facilitation, vocational training, occupational therapy, speech therapy and services related to a therapist placement with a special needs child on vacation with parents, or while his/her parents are on vacation, and posting of therapists abroad for intervention.

We render behaviour therapy sessions to special needs children in their various homes or schools using evidence-based and basic principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis as well as Verbal Behaviour. 

At BRAE Therapy Centre; we offer behaviour therapy services, occupational therapy and speech therapy to individuals with autism, ADHD and Language delay.  

We provide school placement (ABA facilitator) to assist with classroom learning and behavioral modification program.

What Advice would you give to parents struggling with caring for their special needs children.

If funding is the issue, because of the economic situation, they should get trained themselves. Learn ABA principles and use them to work with their child. The child must also be enrolled in a Montessori school and not just any school.

Thank you for a great interview Mr Adewale.

Mr Adewale Ajao is a B.Sc. (Ed) holder, a Certified Applied Behaviour Analyst, and a Verbal Behaviour Expert. He got his training from Florida, USA. He is the Founder and  Managing Director of the Behaviour Therapy company, BRAE Therapy. He has seen over 200 individuals with different cases regarding Rett syndrome, ADHD, ADD, Language delay, ASD, Williams syndrome, Depression and many more.

He considers it his life’s purpose to help individuals with autism and other developmental delays to reach their full potential by modifying their behaviour, building their functional skills and developing their speech and language through ABA and verbal behaviour.

He has a YouTube page where he mentors parents and teachers on how to understand and work with children with autism. 

His Company details are:

IG: brae_appliedbahavior

FB: Applied Behaviour Analyst

YouTube: BRAE Adewale

Website: www.brae.org.ng

BRAE Therapy Contacts: 2348110261749, 2347038763785

DL: 2348060806215