Well done to the University of Southampton for this much needed study.
For too long parents of autistic children have been unable to choose the right provision for their child due to lack of research. Parents have been at the mercy of Local Education Authorities to obtain the facts. As the body that assess a child’s needs but also pay/provide provision for that child, LEA’s often have a conflict of interest. Sadly, some LEA Educational Psychologists’ reports downplay the degree of need and are written "backwards" with the local placement in mind, not "forwards" starting from the child and the child's needs.
For the first time in the UK, parents will be able to make an informed choice based on British research as to whether they wish their child to have the standard LEA provision or a method that has proven to have better results.
My only fear, is that LEA’s will use this research to try to cut ABA programme that run for 40 hours per week to the figure of 25 hours mentioned in this study.

John , Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire

Claudia
I agree with your wishes that schizoprenia is devastating and needs more attention but i wanted to point out to you that the latest NHS figure here is that autism affects 1 in 86 children.
Sara (mother of Tom, aged 4, diagnosed with autism and fighting an ongoing battle with the LEA to get decent ABA provision for him)

Sara Moroza-James, Plymouth, UK

My eight year old son has high functioning autism and was part of the study conducted by Southampton University. He made significant progress in all areas, however, this was by no means the end of our problems. Being 'high functioning' he has no significant learning disabilities and special schools are not considered appropriate. He cannot be taught in main stream schools because they are unable to deal with his complex behaviours. Our LEA recommended a school for severe behavioural and emotional difficulties which was completely inappropriate for our son's needs, we have therefore resorted to teaching him at home. This is working very well but is by no means an easy option.

Pauline, Andover, Hampshire

Our Child Nathaniel took part in this trial, it took 2 years of full time work 7 days a week.
The result was miraculous.
When Nathaniel was two years old he disappeared down a dark silent hole.
ABA brought him back to us, a more loving boy you would be hard to find.
He attends mainstream school, and progressing well in Maths and English, he even has ( in a round about way) friends.
We will always be grateful to the team of tutors who attended Nathaniel during this very intrusive period in our lives and would do it all again tomorow

Philip Fearon, Romsey, Hants

Although I think it is great that autism is getting all this attention now in the media and Hollywood, I think we should not forget another devasting brain disease - schizophrenia. Autism hits about 1 in 250 children I believe, schizophrenia hits about 1 in a 100, making it a much more common disease. Perhaps schizophrenia is not now getting the same attention because it tends to hit young adults, not quite as cute of an age as the toddlers stricken by autism. But schizophrenia also needs media and Hollywood attention for research on how to stop the disease.

Claudia, Atlanta, USA

It is critical that more and more research is done to demonstrate the efficacy of ABA(VB). We (our wider family) had the usual fight with a Home Counties LEA and we won a SEN tribunal last November for our then 3 year old male. It is appalling that parents already struggling with a child with this disability should then have to fight their way through a minefield of opposition and intractability. Trying to find tutors, and then train them, and then keep them (and that is another can of worms), as well as having a life, and helping your autistic child, and any siblings, and maintain a marriage is an extreme demand on any one.
We have seen the results that ABA (VB) can produce and we will do all we can with whatever spare energy we have to continue to draw attention to this much maligned therapy.It would also help emormously if the NAS would start to throw their weight behind it rather than promoting TEACCH and PEACH methods.

Judi Hattaway, Berkshire, UK

More information about the study and about other interventions for indivdiduals with autism can be found on the Research Autism website at http:/www.researchautism.net

Research Autism part-funded the study and is the only UK charity exclusively dedicated to research into interventions in autism

Bernard Fleming, London, UK

I have an autistic toddler in my close family. The official line from our government is that autistic children cannot be cured and its unfair on the child to try. The local social services even warned that intensive education is 'too difficult' for autistic children and might be considered as abuse if the teaching regime is too rigorous.
Instead, the state response is to first send a detailed questionnaire for the autistic toddler to complete, asking for example 'What are your favourite games?' (Autistic children often have problems with concepts such as favourites). Once the data has been recorded (presumably for setting targets) the state then give up on the child, offer no further assistance and recomend normal state schooling. I presume this is because of cost . Without intensive treatment many children are then condemned to an impaired life probably requiring state care and state support. The cost of not helping/treating now will surely be greater in the long term.

Jack, London, UK