Autism Spectrum Disorders
Davis Autism Approach®
Davis® Stepping Stones
The Davis Autism Approach Program was created by Ronald D. Davis, an autistic man with the IQ of a genius, to help transform the lives of autistic people and their families. Davis interventions are gentle, respectful and incredibly powerful. The programs are grounded in the philosophy of embracing and celebrating neurodiversity, respecting every individual, nurturing growth, and building on each person’s strengths to overcome challenges.
Any autistic individual aged eight years or over, who has receptive language can benefit from the Davis Autism Approach®. For those younger, or with limited receptive language, they will start with the Davis® Stepping Stones Program: beginning steps to the Davis Autism Approach.
Davis Autism Approach®
Davis Autism Approach Program® is a non-intrusive approach that empowers individuals to participate more fully in a life they choose, while appreciating who they are as autistic individuals. To facilitate an understanding of the basic life concepts and self-regulatory skills, that were missed, blocked or reduced due to autistic characteristics; building a foundation for self and social development allowing for fuller participation in life they choose.
Who would benefit?
Any autistic individual aged eight years or over.
How does it work?
The Davis Autism Approach is a three-step program.
Individuation and Self-Regulation
Assisting the individual to become more present in the world, develop accurate perception, gain an awareness of self, and develop the ability to regulate their focus, stress and energy levels.
New Foundations (Identity Development)
Facilitating the individual to understand fundamental life concepts that enable them to interact with the world. This is achieved through creating each concept in modelling clay and then integrating the concept to everyday life.
Building Bridges (Social Integration)
Facilitating social awareness by exploring the different types of relationships and behaviors we engage in with others. Rather than having the individual learns a set of social skills, one explores different categories of relationships and associated behaviors that can be applied across any social situation they may encounter.
Read more about Program Details.
What kind of results do people see?
- A greater sense of self
- Reductions in anxiety and temper tantrums
- Increased ability to be able to take part in daily activities
- Willingness to try new things
- Greater capacity to cope with change and cause changes
- Create order in their life
- Being better equipped in social relationships
Davis® Stepping Stones Program
…Beginning steps to the Davis Autism Approach Program
Davis Stepping Stones is a holistic, foundational program that steps each young individual on the autism spectrum through a sequence of essential early childhood development stages. It uses a team approach to developing strong foundational life concepts for each child, by working with the child’s support person to coach and equip them alongside the child.Who would benefit?
Autistic individuals under eight years of age or Autistic individuals of any age with very limited (or no) language.
How does it work?
The Davis Stepping Stones Program is a four-step program.
Tools for the helper
Each support person learns two mental strategies to help them remain calm and relaxed while working with their child/student. These tools are called ‘Release’ and ‘Dial’.
Awareness of Self
The child is guided through a process that helps them become more present in the world. They develop accurate perceptions and gain an awareness of Self.
Davis Stepping Stones Life Concepts
Once the child has developed more accurate perception and is more present in the world, we can help them to learn fundamental life concepts that they may not have picked up previously. Then the child is guided to create a clay model of their own choosing, which visually represents that concept.
Integration of Life Concepts
After each concept is taught, the child needs to have lots of opportunities to recognize and experience the concept in the real world, with help from their support person.
Read more about Program Details.
What kind of results do people see?
- better self-awareness (e.g. expressing appropriate pain when injured)
- improved self-regulation (can calm themselves down)
- fewer meltdowns
- less resistance to change
- willingness to try new things
- increased ability to refer to self as ‘I’ or ‘me’
- increase in pretend play
- growth in language
- increased understanding of cause and effect
- can follow instructions using the ideas of before and after.
Testimonial
Parent of an ASD boy
Trainee of Davis Autism Approach
Note:
For simplicity, we have chosen to use the word ‘Autism’ as the umbrella term for Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Autism, Asperger Syndrome (AS), High Functioning Autism (HFA) or Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Contact
Address
Fairfields Milton Keynes UK
