| At a glance: Douglass Developmental Disabilities Centre (DDDC) Program |
Type of therapy
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Behavioural
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The claim
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Improves communication, cognitive functioning, social skills and skills for daily life
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Suitable for
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Children with ASD
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Research rating
Find out more about this rating system in our FAQs. |
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Time
Estimate of the total time for family in hours per week and duration. |
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The time commitment for this program is up to 40 hours a week for a school year. |
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Cost
Estimate of cost to family per session/item or week. |
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The program is not offered in Australia, so there is no information available on costs. |
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This program is not available in Australia in this form. It might be offered as part of a service within Australia or in a modified form. Your local autism advisor might be able to help you find out more.
About this intervention
What is it?
Based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), the Douglass Developmental Disabilities Centre (DDDC) Program is a structured preschool-based early intervention program. The program uses intensive and individualised instruction to promote communication, social and cognitive skills.
Who is it for?
The program is designed for children and young people with autism. Recently, a home-based program has been designed for children under three years of age.
What is it used for?
The DDDC school-based program teaches a wide range of skills to children with autism. These include speech and language skills, social skills, academic skills, cognitive skills and daily living skills. The program also aims to reduce challenging behaviours.
Where does it come from?
The DDDC Program was developed in 1972 at Rutgers University in the US.
What is the idea behind it?
The DDDC program is based on the principles of ABA and the idea that skills and behaviours can be taught or improved in a systematic way. The program aims to promote the development of skills and the use of these skills in a range of different settings, such as home, preschool and in the community.
What does it involve?
After a referral and assessment process, children commence the DDDC program. They often begin at preschool. Children attend for 34-45 hours a week for a 12-month school year. Parents and families are expected to provide additional instruction at home.
The preschool program has three classes that children can progress through. Each class focuses on developing different skills. The program can also continue right up to secondary-level classes.
During the program, several ABA techniques and interventions are used for specific purposes. For example:
To achieve particular outcomes, several other approaches and techniques are also used. These include:
Cost considerations
The DDDC Program is not offered in Australia, so no information about its costs is available.
Does it work?
However, it is based on ABA principles, which are well supported by research.
Who practises this method?
In the US, the school-based program is run by certified professionals such as teachers and speech pathologists, as well as other trained aides. The professionals who practise this method are Board Certified Behavior Analysts, accredited through the Behavior Analysts Certification Board.
Parent education, training, support and involvement
This program recognises the importance of parent involvement, and parents are provided with training. Parent and sibling support groups are also available.
Where can I find a practitioner?
The DDDC Program is currently available only in the US.
