THE TEACCH METHOD

Teacch is a program for individuals of all ages and skill levels with autism spectrum disorders.

It was developed at University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill in the early 1970s by Eric Scopler and colleagues.

The Teacch program

It’s main goal is to help autistic children grow to a maximum autonomy at adult age. This includes helping them understand the world that surrounds them, acquiring communication skills that will enable them to relate to other people and giving them the necessary capability to be able to make choices concerning their lives.

Structured Teaching

At the core of TEACCH is the idea of structured teaching, which is compromised of 3 components: physical organization, scheduling, and teaching methods. It places heavy reliance upon teaching through visual means due to the difficulties that children with autism have with processing verbal information.

Structured Teaching

It focuses in difficulties at:• receptive and expressive language•sequential memory• understanding social rules•sensory difficulties

Basic principles of Structured Teaching

•Physical structure: WHERE•Daily atomic Schedule: WHAT WILL HAPPEN •Work System: WHAT , HOW, END, WHAT FOLLOWS•Individualized treatment•Visual structure

Physical structure

•Refers to the way we organize the classroom’s environment•It helps the student understand Where we do What•Needs clear physical boundaries•Includes activities like: work, play, snack, music and transitioning

Daily Scheduling

•It’s a schedule which indicates what the person is supposed to do and when it is supposed to happen.•The person’s entire day or just an hour, are clearly shown to the person through words, photographs, drawings.•It helps the person reduce stress through organizing and knowing what will happen next.

Work System• Answers four questions:1. WHAT am I expected to do during an activity?2. HOW MUCH is supposed to be accomplished?3. WHEN I finish?4. WHAT happens after the activity is completed?

The goal is to teach the person to work independently and it’s organized in such a way that the person has little or no difficulty figuring what to do. For example, the activity should be performed from top to bottom and from left to right.

Visual Structure

Visual structure provides a daily schedule using pictures or written words, as well as visual instructions and visual organization signaling the beginning and end of tasks.

Teacch’s principles

Respect for autistic people’s difference.

Respect for parents and inclusion of their opinion in decisions regarding their children

EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIESSHOE-BOX TASKS

FINE MOTOR SKILLSCORRESPONDENCE

CATEGORIZATION

COLOR CONCEPTS

SORTING

FINE MOTOR SKILLSSORTING