If you are a parent, caregiver, or autistic person trying to understand the different therapies and supports available for autism, it can be difficult to know where to begin. When we began our journey with autism 25 years ago, I felt like someone had thrown me into a taffy pulling machine. So, I put this together to help those who might be in the same place I was so long ago.
You may hear about ABA. Then someone mentions speech therapy. Another person recommends occupational therapy. You may come across developmental approaches, social-skills programs, educational strategies, counseling, physical therapy, or a long list of other options.
And somewhere along the way, a very reasonable question comes up:
Which one is right for us?
The honest answer is that there is no single therapy that is right for every autistic person. Everyone is different.
Autism is a spectrum, and every autistic person is different. They have their own strengths, challenges, communication styles, sensory needs, learning styles, goals, age, environment, and family circumstances. And these different options can influence which therapies might be useful.
The current guidance from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recognizes a broad range of approaches and emphasizes individualized personal and family-centered planning.
The one thing that I feel is very important for you to realize is that you are, now and for the foreseeable future, your child’s strongest advocate. And there are times when you will feel completely alone. But know this, you are not alone. There will be groups, people, friends and family who will stand and walk with you down this road.
That is what Autism Play Guide is designed to do. It is here to help you understand the landscape so you can ask better questions, recognize the differences between approaches, and decide what may be worth exploring with qualified professionals.
A Quick Look at Autism Therapy Options
There are many different types of therapies and support services for autistic people. Some focus on communication. Others address daily living skills, learning, movement, social interaction, emotional well-being, or specific behaviors.
Some approaches overlap, and in many cases, they may be used together. The important thing is to look beyond the name of a therapy and understand what the program does, what goals it has, and whether it is helping the individual.
Let’s look at some of the approaches families are most likely to encounter.
1. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Applied Behavior Analysis, commonly called ABA, is one of the most widely discussed autism interventions.
ABA uses principles of behavior to teach skills and address behaviors. Programs may work on communication, learning, social interaction, daily living skills, safety, or other individualized goals. Progress is generally measured and tracked.
We explore this in greater detail in our free ABA report.
2. Speech-Language Therapy
Communication can be one of the areas where autistic people may need the most support. With a qualified speech-language therapist who has experience working with autistic people, many autistic individuals could benefit from this type of support.
For someone who communicates differently, helping that person communicate effectively may be a much more meaningful goal than simply trying to increase a person’s spoken language skills.
What you, as a parent or caregiver, need to realize is that you must find a program that fits your child—not make your child fit the program.
3. Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on helping a person participate in everyday activities and develop the skills needed for greater independence. This therapy might include things like dressing, eating, writing, using utensils, bathing, playing, or participating in school activities.
4. Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs)
Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBIs) combine behavioral and developmental principles. Rather than relying only on highly structured teaching sessions, they often use everyday activities, social interaction, and play as opportunities for learning.
For families looking for approaches that incorporate learning into everyday activities and play, NDBIs may be worth exploring.
5. Physical Therapy (PT)
Physical therapy (PT) can help when an autistic person has challenges involving movement, balance, coordination, strength, or other physical skills.
The important question is whether there is a specific physical or functional need that PT could help address. Not every autistic person needs physical therapy, and that is something you can discuss with your health care providers.
6. Educational Approaches and School-Based Supports
Support doesn’t always happen in a clinic. And for school-age children, educational support programs can be an important part of an overall plan.
As your child’s advocate, it is important that you are very involved in your child’s school programs. You and the school should work together to build an IEP that fits your child. But you don’t have to navigate that process alone. In junior high, we found out we could have outside therapists and medical professionals attending the IEP meetings. This was a fantastic resource that helped us and the school build a program that better supported our child.
For many families, the most useful question isn’t simply, “What therapy does my child receive?”
It may be even more important to ask, “What support does my child need to succeed during the school day?”
7. Social and Relationship-Based Approaches
Some approaches focus specifically on social interaction, relationships, communication, and participation with others.
These may include structured social-skills programs, peer-based activities, social stories, parent-mediated approaches, and relationship-focused models.
The idea is to meet the person where they are, join them in what interests them, and use those shared interactions to encourage communication, engagement, and connection.
8. Mental Health Therapy
Autistic people, just like everyone else, have times when life feels overwhelming, stressful, or difficult to navigate. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and other mental-health concerns can sometimes be part of that picture. When they are, having someone to talk with—someone who understands the person’s needs, communication style, and experiences—can be an important part of their overall support.
One approach you may hear about is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It can help people explore the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develop ways to work through situations that may be causing them difficulty.
I need to take a moment and share something very important with you.
Please don’t forget about yourself. Your health is important too. Too often, parents and caregivers put their own health aside while focusing on their child’s needs.
Do not do this!
You must take care of yourself. It doesn’t do anyone any good if you, as your child’s advocate, become too ill to do the job effectively.
And this leads to another subject that we will explore in a future article: “Who will take care of your child if something happens to you?”
9. Medication
Medication is a touchy subject, and it is different from most of the therapies we’ve discussed in this article. Before we go any further, I want to make something clear: Autism Play Guide isn’t here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t do for your child.
Neither am I a healthcare professional or a licensed therapist, and I’m not here to give you medical advice.
There are currently no medications that treat the core characteristics of autism itself. However, medication may sometimes be used to help manage symptoms or conditions that occur alongside autism and interfere with daily life.
Starting Early Can Help — But It Is Never Too Late to Seek Support
Families often hear that early intervention is important, and there is good reason for that.
Early intervention can make a difference in a child’s development and help children learn important skills. At the same time, it is important to remember that intervention at any age can be helpful.
If your child is older, or if you are an autistic adult looking for support, don’t assume that it is too late. Support can still be worthwhile. As an advocate for your child—or for yourself—the question to ask is: “What support would be useful now?”
No single approach is right for everyone. At Autism Play Guide, our goal is not to tell families which therapy they should choose.
Our goal is to help you understand your options well enough to ask good questions, recognize what a particular program is offering, and make informed decisions with the people who know your family best.
If you’re researching ABA specifically, we’ve gone much deeper into that subject in our free Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Autism: A Practical, Evidence-Informed Guide for Families.
We’ve created a separate report to help families understand what ABA is, what research says about it, how programs can differ, what to look for in a provider, questions to ask, and red flags families should take seriously. Just click on the link and download your free copy today.
A Note About This Article
Autism therapies and support services can change as research develops, and availability varies by location, age, insurance coverage, and individual circumstances.
This article is intended to provide general educational information. It is not medical, psychological, behavioral, educational, legal, or insurance advice and does not establish a professional-client relationship.
Families and autistic individuals should work with appropriately qualified professionals and consider the individual’s own preferences, needs, strengths, and goals when making decisions about services.
Autism Play Guide does not endorse every therapy, provider, product, or program mentioned in this article. The inclusion of an approach is intended to help readers understand options, not to guarantee that it will be appropriate or effective for every person.