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TEACCH Methodology

Birch Family Services and TEACCH

TEACCH, an acronym for the Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication-handicapped Children, is a methodology for treating, educating and supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their families. Developed by Dr. Eric Schopler in 1974, the original TEACCH program is a part of the Department of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill, and provides both services to individuals with ASD, and training to the broad group of professionals who serve them.

TEACCH recognizes that there is a “culture of autism”, or a particular way that individuals with ASD perceive and understand the world. So in addition to basing treatment plans around individuals' skills, interests, and strengths, treatment plans are grounded on routines, predictability and rely heavily on visual cues, all important to people with ASD. This approach supports the development of independent communication, social, school, work and leisure skills for those who might otherwise be locked out of much of daily life.

This approach utilizes the strengths that many people with ASD have, for example, a preference for using the visual modality instead of the spoken word. It respects that their aversions and sensitivities are not simple likes and dislikes, but are neurologically based. The willingness to work within the world view of the person with ASD and not to force painful modes of interaction on these individuals is aligned with Birch's approach to working with individual with disabilities. Accordingly, for the past 15 years, we have successfully used TEACCH and related methodologies in our classrooms (see our Education link). We are implementing a newly-designed In-Home Residential habilitation program, and building new residences for children and adults with ASD (see our Community Services link). And, as Division TEACCH UNC's New York affiliate, we have developed training programs for both Birch staff and professionals from other organizations (see our Training Institute link)