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The growing membership base of ASA encompasses a
broad, diverse group of parents, family members, special education teachers, administrators, medical doctors, therapists, nurses and aides, as well as countless other
personnel involved in the education, care, treatment and support of individuals with autism. Recognizing and respecting the diverse range of opinions, needs and desires of
this group, ASA embraces an overall philosophy which chooses to empower individuals with autism, their parents or caregivers, to make choices best suited to the needs of the
person with autism.
At the very core of the parent
choice philosophy is the belief that no single program or
treatment will benefit all individuals with autism. Furthermore, the
recommendation of what is "best" or "most effective"
for a person with autism should be determined by those people directly
involved - the individual with autism, to the extent possible, and the
parents or family members. Providing information and education to help in
decision-making are more highly regarded at ASA than is advocating for one
particular theory or philosophy.
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