Peach provides two models of intervention:
1. Early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) – Peach will support and train you and a team of tutors to provide an intensive ABA programme for your child. The programme usually starts in the child’s home before transitioning into nursery or school. According to extensive research, EIBI is the most effective treatment for children with autism. Find out here about how ABA programmes are funded.
2. Short term programmes – Peach can also provide training on a specific area of need for your child. For example, toilet training, reducing challenging behaviours, increasing communication, eating programmes, reducing phobias etc.
The Peach Model uses ABA techniques within the following framework:
The 3 key aspects of Peach programmes
1. An individualised approach: Peach case managers have a wide range of strategies at their disposal, used according to the needs of the child. These include discrete trial training, a variety of communication strategies, visual support strategies, verbal behaviour approaches (language development based on the work of Skinner), teaching to fluency, errorless learning. Some children respond well to more structured teaching and others to more incidental teaching. Most children require a balance to help them initiate and respond to their full potential across all environments.
2. Flexibility: Peach case managers assess the individual needs of each child and make recommendations of programming and intensity according to these needs. Peach feel that interventions should be based on scientific principles and ultimately decisions should be data driven.
3. Staff quality: Our team of case managers are overseen by clinical managers who are BCBA (Board Certified Behaviour Analysts). They receive external and in-house training on the latest developments in the field. Between us, the staff have well over 50 years combined experience and so the support network within the staff team is invaluable. All of our case managers have extensive experience in the field and have seen many children all the way through their programmes. They are therefore quickly able to tailor teaching styles to the specific strengths of the child and are able to problem solve to overcome any specific obstacles to progress.
Other aspects of Peach programmes
Positive approach: Motivation and positive relationships are key. Children learn best when they are having fun and this is always a priority.
Teaching naturally: Emphasis is on teaching as naturally as possible across all environments. This results in rapid generalisation of skills to new situations and ensures the child experiences maximum success.
Family orientated: Peach case managers work with parents, siblings and extended family members to include them as fully as possible.
Comprehensive curriculum: Our curriculum covers all aspects of the child’s life with particular emphasis on communication, language, play and social skills. We use the VB-Mapp as a basis with additional individual programmes according to need. Our programmes lead into or include National Curriculum targets as appropriate.
Tailor-made programmes: Skills taught are always functional for the child, the child will be taught skills that they are able to build on or make immediate use of.
High supervision: Research indicates that a high level of supervision is required for a successful ABA programme. Peach provide the family with workshops for at least one full day every six weeks to provide the team with ongoing training.
Continuous monitoring: The child’s progress for each aspect of the programme is continuously evaluated so that the best interventions are in place for every aspect of their development.
