Intensive Behavioural Intervention
Autism is a neurological dysfunction that impedes understanding and learning communication skills. Individuals with autism also tend to display specific behavioural patterns and have an impaired ability to engage in social interaction.
Although specific characteristics are used for diagnosing autism, each individual with autism is different. While some people have severe sensory issues and will scream at the slightest touch, others may seek deep pressure with hugs, weighted clothing, hitting, or even self-injurious behaviour.
Autism is only one diagnosis on a spectrum of the disorder. Asperger's Syndrome (or sometimes called hugh-functioning autism), pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD_NOS) are all on the same spectrum.
IBI consists of intensive behavioural instruction that is delivered over many hours every day, usually for a period of 1-3 years. Initial skills such as compliance, attending, and imitation are prerequisites to learning within the classroom. Sometimes (although incorrectly) called the Lovass Method, the term Intensive Behavioural Intervention is often interchangeably used with Applied Behaviour Analysis. Before programming begins, assessments are made to which programs are needed, which programs need to be generalized to different situations, and which learning skills need to be maintained while in the classroom.