Developing Overhand Throwing Skills for a Child With Autism With a Collaborative Approach in School-Based Therapy.

PURPOSE

This case report presents an interdisciplinary approach in school-based therapy, combining physical therapy and applied behavior analysis to improve the motor skills and the participation in recreational activities of a child with autism spectrum disorder.

METHODS

A 9-year-old child with autism spectrum disorder participated in a 20-week gross motor intervention designed to improve the child's overhand throwing ability, which included weekly physical therapy instruction and daily throwing trials using applied behavior analysis approaches.

RESULTS

The child demonstrated gains in throwing accuracy, significant gains on measures of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2, the Test of Gross Motor Development-2, and the School Function Assessment.

CONCLUSION

This unique approach in school-based therapy demonstrates effective strategies for a multidisciplinary intervention to improve motor learning skills and participation in recreational activities in the school setting.