The Southwest Voice

On February 29, 2008, Dr. Robert Koegel and Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel discussed their work with the autistic population before a sellout audience of 450 at the Kern Autism Network’s Twelfth Annual Autism Awareness Conference.  The conference was held at the Holiday Inn Select in Bakersfield.

Dr. Robert Koegel is the Director of the UCSB Koegel Autism Center, a Professor of Clinical Psychology, and a Professor of Special Education.  Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel is Clinical Director of Autism Services in the UCSB Koegel Autism Center.

The Koegels described how challenging behaviors of individuals with autism can prevent full participation in society, and they introduced ways to work with individuals through positive behavior supports.  They explained the principles, strategies and techniques of pivotal response treatment.

“We try to keep the children as inclusive as possible,” said Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel.  “We try to keep children in the natural environment. We try to have them fully mainstreamed.”

She gave a lively account of her work as a consultant on Supernanny.  Parents in the audience easily identified with the family shown in clips from the program as Dr. Koegel worked with three-year-old Tristan and elicited verbal responses.

Dr. Robert Koegel emphasized giving children choices and natural reinforcers as motivation for improvement in behavior.  “Give them a choice and follow their lead and it will improve their motivation.”

“It turns out that almost all autistic kids do not have a motor speech problem,” he said.  “If you reinforce them for trying to talk, you will get whole words.  Find something he wants and then prompt him to say it and give it to him when he says it.”  That is the key element of pivotal response treatment.

A major indicator of a favorable outcome for autistic children is whether or not the child spontaneously initiates an interaction. Children can be taught to initiate.  “They will provide their own learning opportunities,” said Dr. Robert Koegel.  “They will have more functions of the language.  They look way more social.”

School-based clubs centered on the child’s interests can help children learn to interact and socialize with peers.  “There is some research that shows that using obsessions as reinforcers does not increase it at other times of the day,” said Dr. Lynn Kern Koegel.

Dr. Robert Koegel concluded by stressing the importance of including special needs children in mainstream environments.

“Number one, people with disabilities don’t have all weaknesses,” he said.  “They also have strengths.  The disability is a relatively small part. First and foremost, they are a human being, a human being that has overcome an obstacle.  That’s a relatively small part of their humanity.  It brings up the high qualities of other people.”.

The Kern Autism Network provides support, awareness, information and education to families, professionals and the public throughout Kern County.  They work towards cooperation, coordination and the creation of services between all individuals and agencies working with people with autism.  Their website is www.kernautism.org.