TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Related Handicapped Children)

Developed at the University of North Carolina, TEACCH is an internationally recognized, structured teaching framework that targets attention, comprehension, communication and social interactions. Based on the idea that the environment should be adapted to the child with an ASD, not the child to the environment, this approach calls for a highly structured and predictable environment of routines, which reduces stress, anxiety and frustration, and helps people with autism to understand what is expected of them.

TEACCH appeals to the visual learning strengths of individuals with autism and presents an organized work system that supports sensory processing difficulties and clarifies information for the individual without adult directions or prompts. Through the management of schedules, physical space, visual structure and individualized learning targets, TEACCH promotes independence and supports the individual to keep working by providing information within the environment that instructs, organizes and clarifies.

All Work Systems should be able to visually answer the 4 questions

What work?
How much work?
When am I finished?
What comes next?

TEACCH has proven to be an effective approach for developing and using skills independently, and it can be used for any activity, including academic, leisure, vocation and daily living skills.

The Autism Project firmly believes in structured teaching, and we incorporate it into our programs for individuals with autism, and we offer trainings that help parents and educators learn how to implement it in various settings, including:

A Starting Point

A Starting Point is a nine-week training series for parents and professionals that provides a foundation and deeper understanding of ASD, and enables participants to learn and practice effective strategies that can be used across settings to foster success and independence among individuals with autism.

Among the topics covered, this training teaches participants the key components to structured teaching, including the use of visual structure and supports for children with ASD, as well as how to implement independent work systems that enable individuals to work productively.

<Overview of Major ASD Treatments