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Economics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview of Treatment and Research Funding

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Handbook of Early Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Part of the book series: Autism and Child Psychopathology Series ((ACPS))

Abstract

Without question, autism research and treatment are big business. Autism impacts multiple aspects of the lives of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), their families, and the communities in which they live, attend school, and engage socially and vocationally. With no easy cure or preventative measures on the horizon, the field of autism treatment has attracted a plethora of questionable industries, promoting everything from dolphin therapy to fad diets. While researchers around the globe endeavor to determine the etiology of ASD, the reality is that intervention based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) remains the only evidenced-based treatment for children with ASD. While fidelity and reliability are critical to its effectiveness, bad purveyors of ABA are ubiquitous, triggering government task forces and certificate programs as local, state, and federal governments struggle to regulate a growing multibillion-dollar business.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Autism and Related Disorders, 19019 Ventura Blvd, 3rd Floor, Tarzana, CA, 91356, USA

    Julie Kornack, Angela Persicke & Dennis Dixon

  2. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Paige Cervantes & Jina Jang

Authors
  1. Julie Kornack
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  2. Angela Persicke
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  3. Paige Cervantes
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  4. Jina Jang
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  5. Dennis Dixon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julie Kornack .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Tarzana, California, USA

    Jonathan Tarbox

  2. Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Tarzana, California, USA

    Dennis R. Dixon

  3. Department of Psychology, Queens College City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA

    Peter Sturmey

  4. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

    Johnny L. Matson

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Kornack, J., Persicke, A., Cervantes, P., Jang, J., Dixon, D. (2014). Economics of Autism Spectrum Disorders: An Overview of Treatment and Research Funding. In: Tarbox, J., Dixon, D., Sturmey, P., Matson, J. (eds) Handbook of Early Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0401-3_9

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