By Jeremy Twitchell (contact)

Wed, Jan 14, 2009 (3:40 p.m.)

Touro University has announced two new programs within its rapidly expanding Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities that school officials hope will help bridge the gap in local services for autistic children and their families.

The first is a weekly social skills group that will teach autistic children basic social skills such as carrying on a conversation, inviting friends over to play, joining groups of children to play and coping with rejection.

But the biggest benefit of the program, Clinical Director Nicole Cavenagh said, is that parents will be in another room at the same time, studying the same concepts and learning how to help their children learn and develop those skills.

"Research has shown that for autistic children, 35 to 40 hours of intervention a week is ideal," Cavenagh said. "That's really difficult for most families to get by coming to therapy, so through proper training, we're able to teach parents how to provide that intervention at home."

Cavenagh studied the program as a resident at UCLA, where it has proven successful, she said. The program works, because it gives families a framework for continued development in the weeks, months and even years after they complete the 12-week course, she said.

"We really strive to use things that are grounded in research, that have proven efficacy so that we know our clients are getting the best possible programs," Cavenagh said.

The program can accommodate seven to 10 children and their parents per week, and the 12-week course will cycle continuously, she said. The center will be able to run up to three groups at a time if the demand is there.

Based on what she's seen, Cavenagh thinks that is likely.

"I think the number of children in the valley who are affected by autism disorders is significantly larger than the number of people who are providing services. … We just can't keep up," she said.

The second program Touro is providing is a free lecture series that will debut Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. and continue on the third Tuesday of every month.

Teachers and staff members will deliver the lectures; the first is titled "Typical vs. Atypical Development — When to Seek Out an Evaluation."

Though the lectures are free, seating is limited and Touro encourages those interested in attending to RSVP at 777-4808.

Jeremy Twitchell can be reached at 990-8928 or jeremy.twitchell@hbcpub.com.