Frequently Asked Questions
What services do we offer at PSDS?
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Reference and Regulate (R&R)
• Social Thinking – after stage 2
• Theory of Mind – after stage 2
• Parent Coaching
These services all support each other and can be offered together or individually depending on the support needs of the child and the preferences of the parents (& funding)
What is R&R?
Reference and Regulate is a developmental program designed to support Autistic children as they develop foundational communication skills. This program helps children learn to be calm, flexible, and social by focusing on regulation, engagement, and social referencing. Learn more here
How is it different from ABA?/ Why does it not work in conjunction with ABA?
• ABA is more focused on using prompts to train children to engage in more neurotypical behavior. R&R does not use physical prompting and focuses on the strengths, abilities, and intrinsic motivation of the child. For example, we encourage eye contact through child-led, play-based, motivating activities.
• ABA uses external motivation while R&R uses internal motivation, so these 2 approaches are conflicting and can confuse the child if provided at the same time. As such, we do not offer R&R to clients currently receiving ABA therapy.