DoD’s conclusions ‘flawed’ about military children’s progress with autism therapy, expert says
March 9
DoD's Autism Care Demonstration project offers Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, which encourages positive behaviors and discourages negative behaviors to improve a variety of skills. World Autism Awareness Day is April 2. (iStock/Getty Images)
The Defense Department’s conclusion that military children with autism were not making progress with a key treatment has substantial flaws and is based on “incompetent” interpretation of the data, according to a new report.
The report, written by leading autism researcher Ira Cohen, is critical of DoD’s conclusions about the lack of progress of children who are diagnosed with autism and are receiving Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, or ABA, through DoD’s Autism Care Demonstration project. The demonstration project offers ABA services for all Tricare-eligible beneficiaries with Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosed by an approved provider.