ABSTRACT
This chapter describes a therapeutic model designed and implemented at the Pediatric Mental Health Division of the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Argentina. The services offered by this division adopt a holistic brain–body approach that integrates elements from several disciplines spanning from psychiatry and psychology to physical education. The approach combines techniques designed in our private practices with the existing methods of Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication related handicapped CHildren (TEACCH); the developmental, individual difference, relationship-based (DIR) model or floor time; the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and applied behavioral analysis (ABA), along with physical movement–based training to develop social interactive skills. This interdisciplinary concept emerged from the lack of treatments for autism spectrum disorder that would help children transition from the home to the classroom environment—a problem that was identified in special education and mainstream schools. Besides the development of integrated interventions of various types, the model works with the parents of the child and the school personnel to extend the interventions at the clinic to the home and school environments. To that end, the coordination among parents, educators, and clinicians permits the identification of the main needs, strengths, and weaknesses of each individual child with the purpose of tailoring the treatments and home or school environment of the child.
