[Source:  Education Week]

Behavior-focused treatments for children with autism should not take precedence over other therapies those children may need, such as speech and language therapy or occupational therapy, says a “Dear Colleague” letter from the U.S. Department of Education.
The letter states that some schools may be exclusively relying on applied behavioral analysis, or ABA, therapy, instead of looking at a child’s full spectrum of needs. ABA strategies teach a student socially desirable behaviors, but educational programs should be developed “based on the unique needs of a child with a disability,” the July 6 letter said. Behavioral needs should be only one part of a school district’s evaluation.
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