links to pivotal response treatment web sites

It is important to note that the term ABA does not only apply to Discrete Trial Teaching, as is often implied in the popular media. ABA includes a variety of approaches, many of which are more naturalistic than DTT, and which demonstrate more generalization of learned skills. One example is Pivotal Response Training (PRT), which is a naturalistic ABA intervention developed by Koegel, et al. (1989). The following are links to centers around the world involved in Pivotal Response Treatment

University of California at Santa Barbara: KOEGEL AUTISM CENTER!

The Koegel Autism Research & Training Center is overseen by Drs. Robert and Lynn Koegel. The major goals of the center are increasing our understanding of autism spectrum disorders, the development and implementation of state-of-the-art pivotal response treatments, as well as the improvement of elementary and secondary education efforts for children with autism and other severe disabilities. The center's primary interests lie in research and training (both pre-service and in-service), focusing on family support and on the education of children with autism in community environments and classrooms with their typically developing peers. The center conducts research regarding the development of treatment delivery systems through families, schools, non-disabled peers, and others who provide support for children with autism in educational settings. The center is funded by a number of sources, including the state of California, federal research and training grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Department of Education, and through private donations.

University of California, San Diego: Autism Research Program

The UCSD Autism Research Program is a federally-funded program involved in the experimental analysis and treatment of autism. Under the supervision of Dr. Laura Schreibman, this research laboratory has been in operation since 1984. Research objectives in our lab have included the improved understanding of language, social, and attention deficits in this population with the ultimate goal of developing effective treatment programs. Our main focus has been on the development, delivery, and evaluation of behaviorally-based interventions, typically within a parent-training model. We have been primarily involved in the development and evaluation of a naturalistic behavioral treatment, Pivotal Response Training (PRT). More recently, we have also become involved in translational research designed to transfer empirically-based treatments for autism into community and school settings, as well as research designed to identify methods of treatment individualization for children with autism.

Pivotal Response Intervention Model:  Lisa Benaron MD

This site is closely connected with the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and has a multidisciplinary Professional Advisory Committee. The Commonwealth Fund of NYC has provided major funding. The project is located at All Children's Hospital in Saint Petersburg Florida.
The underlying observation which led to the development of the Pivotal Response intervention model is that there are some skills which are "pivotal” for an individual to function. Addressing a pivotal area of deficit results in gains by the child in areas that were not directly targeted by the initial intervention.

an interview with robert koegel

They do not have to worry about their child throwing tantrums and therefore they don't have to dread taking their child to therapy sessions. Children often hate having to perform drill practices involved with other autism treatments, they feel like they are being forced to do something they don't enjoy and they react to this by causing a scene to get out of treatment. The child will throw tantrums and resist therapy. In contrast, children enjoy PRT and look forward to therapy, no tantrums. Parents love PRT because their children do, they have less to worry about, and this leads to a decrease in their stress level.