Centre run vs. parent run programs

Smith, Buch & Gamby (2000), found that children's outcomes appeared less favorable in parent run programs than those previously reported for professionally run programs (e.g. Lovaas, 1987). For children in the present study, this treatment yielded rapid skill acquisition at treatment onset, with high parent satisfaction. However, these benefits often did not lead to long-term developmental gains, as evidenced by increase in IQ and other test scores. The relatively low treatment quality that was observed may be on factor underlying this finding. Therapists may have achieved enough proficiency to teach children basic skills such as imitation, but not more advanced skills such as conversation and peer play. Similarly, they may have been able to promote skill acquisition, but not generalization and maintenance.

Parents who run their own program (hire Instructor Therapists and Senior Therapists privately) experience the same problems; high therapist turnover, therefore waste time and money training new therapists. Also the program is normally not as highly supervised as it should be.

Bibby, Eikeseth, Martin, Mudford, Reeves (2002) state that 'Overall, research to date suggests that although parent-managed programs may bring about gains in language, adaptive, and intellectual functioning, they may not be as large as in centre based programs, the latter reporting 20 IQ point increases (Harris & Handleman, 2000; Harris et al., 1991; Lovaas, 1989; McEachin et al., 1993) and up to 47% normal functioning (Lovaas, 1987).

Parents who have run their own program and then come to Portia have seen the difference in quality of program and therefore in their child immediately. They are more relaxed, satisfied and enjoy the ability of having someone care for their child at a centre.