Essential Question:
Are there any programs or types of therapy that can help children with Autism live more independent lives?

Foundation Questions:
What is Autism?
What type of therapy is available for these children?
Is there any empirical data to support these approaches?
What are the short and long term results of these therapies?

Tentative Point:
I would like my point to be: Despite the number of fads and trends, there are programs that can help these children be more independent. We will see if the research proves this.

Genres:
Power Point Presentation: Given in the voice of the SLP, intended audience would be professionals at a conference (?) in which she is presenting a particular case. The presentation seemed like such a natural voice for a professional.

Webliography: Given in the voice of a peer of a child with Autism, intended audience would be anyone searching the Internet. So many children are on the Internet these days, it would be very believable for a child to have a page of their own. This will be a vehicle allowing the child to express the things they know about their peer.

Lesson Plan/SOAP notes: Given in the voice of the SLP, intended audience would be professionals and parents. I thought that looking at their therapy sessions would give an idea of how therapy was going and whether or not it was successful.

Poem: Given in the voice of the peer, intended audience would be her teacher and other peers. I
thought that a poem, written for an English class or something, would be a good representation of how the peers of an autistic child react to him and feel about his disorder.

Journal: Given in the voice of the parent of a child with Autism, intended audience is personal - the journal is for personal reflection. I thought that a journal would be a good way to express the feelings and trials of a parent of a child with Autism.

Newsletter: Given in the voice of the parent, intended audience is parents of children of with autism and anyone else interested in autism. I thought that parents who are advocates for Autism and their children might want to educate those around them and form a community with other parents of children with Autism. A newsletter would be a good forum for their voice.

Integration:
I wanted to use the Power Point presentation to tie the whole thing together. This is still under consideration. If I do, then the presentation will look at the success of the child’s therapy in relation to how they perform in therapy, how they interact with their peers, and how they behave at home.

Sources (very tentative)(I know this is suppost to be in APA, but I can't get it to 'underline' or indent in the blog):

Beebe-Frankenberger, M., Gresham, F., MacMillan, D. (1999). A Selective Review of Treatments for Children with Autism: Description and Methodological Considerations. School Pyschology Review, 28, 559-576. Retrieved July 6, 2002 from Academic Search Elite database.

Bondy, A. (Summer, 1999). Total Immersion Therapy for Autism. Focus on Autism & Other Developmental Disabilities, 14, 116-120. Retrieved July 10, 2002 from the Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection database.

Dempsey, I. (March, 2001). A Review of Educational Approaches for Individuals with Autism. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 48, 103-116. Retrieved July 6, 2002 from the Academic Search Elite database.

Myles, B., Orr, T. (Fall, 1998). The Impact of Rhythmic Entertainment on a Person with Autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 13, 163-167. Retrieved July 10, 2002 from the Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection database.

Parks, J. (August, 2002). Exiting Nirvana. American Journal of Art Therapy, 39, 2-12. Retrieved July 10, 2002 from the Academic Search Elite database.