Free Workshop Explores Autism Feeding Problems

By  //  November 27, 2012

At Florida Tech On Wednesday

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Institute of Technology’s School of Psychology’s free monthly workshops — which are of particular interest to parents, educators and professionals who deal with the issues of autism — continues this week.

A free workshop “A Behavioral Approach to Pediatric Feeding Disorders in Children with Autism,” will be presented from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Scott Center for Autism Treatment Seminar Room at Florida Tech. (Image courtesy Fliorida Tech)

Wednesday’s workshop “A Behavioral Approach to Pediatric Feeding Disorders in Children with Autism,” will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Scott Center for Autism Treatment Seminar Room.

Presenters will be Florida Tech Assistant Professor Alison Betz, doctoral student in applied behavior analysis (ABA) Catherine K. Martinez, and Jeanine Tanz, who is working toward her ABA master’s degree.

It is estimated that as many of 90 percent of children with autism have a feeding problem, with approximately 70 percent of these described as selective eaters.

Eating is a complex behavior chain that is comprised of multiple responses and requires several skills. For example, to successfully consume a bite of food, an individual must accept the bite of food, chew and swallow.

Research demonstrates that procedures based on the principles of behavior and applied behavior analysis are effective for both increasing appropriate mealtime behavior and decreasing inappropriate mealtime behavior in children with autism and other development disabilities with feeding problems.

The different types of feeding problems often seen in children with autism and why they might develop will be discussed in this workshop.

Workshop leaders will offer several behavioral strategies shown to be effective interventions for treating a variety of feeding problems across the spectrum of intensity.

The Seminar Room is located on the second floor of the Scott Center for Autism Treatment at the south end of the Florida Tech campus. Parking is available off Panther Place, near University Boulevard.

For more information, call The Scott Center at 321-674-8106, ext. 1, or email the center at thescottcenter@fit.edu.