TEACCH and Autism Ranking:

History

Division TEACCH began in 1966 as a Child Research Project at the Department of Psychiatry, in the School of Medicine, at the University of North Carolina. 

Eric Schopler and Robert Reichler initially called their programme the “Parents-as-Cotherapists model” (emphasising the importance of parents in delivering the intervention). It was only later that it came to be known as the TEACCH model and/or structured teaching.

In 1972 the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation which enabled Division TEACCH to become the first comprehensive state-wide community-based programme of services for autistic children and adults and other similar developmental conditions.

The TEACCH model has since been adopted and adapted by various organisations thought the world.  For example, in the UK many schools (including the schools run by The National Autistic Society) incorporate many of the principles of the TEACCH model into their day to day practice. Other organisations have designed named programmes based on the TEACCH model (such as the Forward Steps Early Intervention Programme run by Barnardo’s in the UK).

Updated

16 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Nov 2017

Next Review

01 Jul 2024