Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is said to be a developmental disorder because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life. Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. ASD occurs in all ethnic, racial, and economic groups. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, people with ASD have:

• Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people
• Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors
• Symptoms that hurt the person’s ability to function properly in school, work, and other areas of life

Sensory Integration Therapy
Sensory Integration Therapy is based on the principals of Dr. Jean Ayres.  Rehabilitation focuses on increasing the body’s ability to locate, sort and direct various incoming sensations and to produce some type of organized response.  Sensory integration incorporates vestibular, tactile, auditory, and proprioceptive information according to what each individual child’s body requires to maintain a state of homeostasis for increased self-regulation.  With increased self-regulation capabilities, a child has more brain energy utilized to build social relationships and to increase function within the world.

Toilet Training
Individualized toilet training focuses in increasing a child’s ability to regulate basic functions such as bowel / bladder control, sleep / wake cycle, etc.  At times an underlying reason for toileting difficulties is in proper processing and interpretation of sensory messages. Toilet training success addresses the core of the dysfunction; whether it is sensory, cognitive, emotional, developmental or communicative-related.