What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder of the brain, which has an impact on social interation and communication skills.

Children with Autism usually lack good eye contact, social skills, communication and attention span.

Many of Henry's challenges are with language and flexibility although he has responded far more than we could of ever imagined since starting the Son-Rise Program. He barely said 20 words at the start of the year and now he has a vocabulary of around 500 words and can put 3 - 4 word sentences together!

What is the Son-Rise Program®?

The Son-Rise Program® was created by authors/teachers Barry ("Bears") Neil Kaufman and Samahria Lyte Kaufman when their son, Raun, was diagnosed as severely and incurably autistic.

Although advised to institutionalise him because of his "hopeless, lifelong condition," the Kaufmans instead designed an innovative home-based, child-centered program in an attempt to reach their little boy.

The Kaufmans' unique program, which marked a complete departure from existing methods of treatment, transformed Raun from a mute, withdrawn child with an IQ of less than 30 into a highly verbal, socially interactive youngster with a near-genius IQ.

Bearing no traces of his former condition, Raun graduated from an Ivy League university and went on to become the director of an educational center for school-aged children.

The Son-Rise Program® innovated an educational treatment modality which included joining children instead of going against them. The program places parents as key teachers, therapists and directors of their own programs and utilizes the home as the most nurturing environment in which to help their children.

This focuses around entering the child's world and following the child’s lead and copying their habits and behaviour in intensive one to one sessions. In time the child shows pleasure in this social activity and seeks company and interaction. This exchange is fundamental for any communication to take place.

Using energy, excitement and enthusiasm engages the child and inspires a continuous love of learning and interaction.

Teaching through interactive play results in effective and meaningful socialisation and communication.

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