Introduction

This week opens by considering the goal, sought by some people and vehemently rejected by others, of a ‘cure’ for autism. Interventions, the main focus of this week, are presented not as ‘cures’, but as procedures to help autistic people overcome challenges in order to promote development and quality of life. The framework for evaluating interventions in relation to evidence is explained. A small selection of key interventions are outlined, including some recent developments in the field.

Now watch the following video in which Dr Ilona Roth introduces this week’s work.

By the end of this week you should be able to:

• appreciate contrasting views on ‘curing’ autism
• understand what is meant by ‘intervention’
• appreciate the importance of interventions being evidence-based
• understand broad principles for evaluating interventions
• be familiar with key interventions and recent developments in the field.