Autism specific approaches

At Inscape House, we use a range of effective autism-specific approaches to support young people and enable them to learn.

First, we have adopted the framework developed by the National Autistic Society for understanding and responding to the needs of children, young people and adults within the spectrum. The acronym for this framework is SPELL, which stands for: Structure, Positive expectations and approaches, Empathy, Low arousal, and Links.

We also make use of the SCERTS approach, which provides insight into the young person’s patterns of social communication, how they display and control their emotions and the ways in which they need to be supported.

SPELL and SCERTS provide a good overview of the young person. We then use a range of approaches according to the individual pattern of need. These approaches include:

• TEACCH
• PECS
• Intensive interaction
• Visual activity
• Sensory profiling
• Social stories
• Social skills groups
• Aspects of ABA.

Other approaches may be used if needed.

Many young people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) experience sleep problems, which have an adverse effect, both on learning and upon family life. Inscape House has a group of trained sleep counsellors within the staff team who can provide sleep clinics and individual sleep programmes for young people and their families who require this support.