Son-Rise
Encyclopedia
Son-Rise is a home-based program for children with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities, which was developed by Barry Neil Kaufman and Samahria Lyte Kaufman for their autistic son
. The program is a parent-directed, relationship-based play therapy
. Parents are trained at an institute on how to be aware of their attitudes—a core principle of the therapy—for bonding and relationship building, as well as creating a low-stimulus, distraction-free playroom environment so the child could feel secure and in control of the over-stimulation
. Parents and facilitators mimic a child's exclusive and restricted "stimming
" behavior, until the child shows social cues for willing engagement. Then encouragement for more complex social activities is done in a noncoercive way, while simultaneously using the "3 E's": Energy, excitement, enthusiasm. If the child moves away from social interaction, the facilitator gives the child their space by using parallel play
in order to gain the child's self-trust. To acquire skill acquisition, the program uses the child's particular motivation for learning.
The program's developers claim that by encouraging eye contact and accepting the child without judgement the treated children will become non-autistic
. However, no published independent study has tested the efficacy of the program. A 2003 study found that involvement with the program led to more drawbacks than benefits for the involved families over time, though there was a strong correlation between patterns of intervention implementation and parental perceptions of intervention efficacy. A 2006 study found that the program is not always implemented as it is described in the literature, which means it will be difficult to evaluate its success/failure rate.
. Subsequently in 1976, Barry Neil Kaufman published Son-Rise, a book recounting his son Raun's alleged recovery, which he revised and re-issued in 1995 with the title Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues. Today Raun Kaufman
is the CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of America. A 1997 BBC documentary followed the family of a five year old autistic boy treated by the program.
evaluations of effectiveness, clinical trials and a retrospective long-term study of program participants began in 2008.
Questions have been raised whether Raun Kaufman was actually autistic before being treated. There are no documented normalizations with older children, and it may be that success "depends on a certain level of intellectual potential". Some professionals have questioned the emphasis placed on eye contact and its potential problems for some children. The consensus within the medical community is that there is no cure for autism and only a very few treatments have empirical evidence for improvements in symptoms.
A 2003 study found that involvement with the Son-Rise Program led to more drawbacks than benefits for the involved families over time, although family stress levels did not rise in all cases. A 2006 study found that the Son-Rise Program is not always implemented as it is typically described in the literature, which suggests it will be difficult to evaluate its efficacy.
Raun Kaufman
Raun Kahlil Kaufman is a teacher and writer who serves as CEO for the early Intervention therapy program Son-Rise. Son-Rise is located at the Autism Treatment Center of America, a division of the Option Institute in Sheffield, Massachusetts, which is an independent non-profit organization that...
. The program is a parent-directed, relationship-based play therapy
Play therapy
Play therapy is generally employed with children aged 3 through 11 and provides a way for them to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-healing process...
. Parents are trained at an institute on how to be aware of their attitudes—a core principle of the therapy—for bonding and relationship building, as well as creating a low-stimulus, distraction-free playroom environment so the child could feel secure and in control of the over-stimulation
Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Sensory integration dysfunction is a neurological disorder characterized by a neurological sensory integration deficit. The more current diagnostic nosology uses the term sensory processing disorder to describe this condition....
. Parents and facilitators mimic a child's exclusive and restricted "stimming
Stimming
Stimming is a repetitive body movement, such as hand flapping, that is hypothesized to stimulate one or more senses. The term is shorthand for self-stimulation. Repetitive movement, or stereotypy, is often referred to as stimming under the hypothesis that it has a function related to sensory input....
" behavior, until the child shows social cues for willing engagement. Then encouragement for more complex social activities is done in a noncoercive way, while simultaneously using the "3 E's": Energy, excitement, enthusiasm. If the child moves away from social interaction, the facilitator gives the child their space by using parallel play
Parallel play
Parallel play is a form of play where children play adjacent to each other, but do not try to influence one another's behavior. Children usually play alone but are interested in what the other child is doing. This usually occurs after the first birthday. It usually involves two or more children in...
in order to gain the child's self-trust. To acquire skill acquisition, the program uses the child's particular motivation for learning.
The program's developers claim that by encouraging eye contact and accepting the child without judgement the treated children will become non-autistic
Neurotypical
Neurotypical is a term that was coined in the autistic community as a label for people who are not on the autism spectrum: specifically, neurotypical people have neurological development and states that are consistent with what most people would perceive as normal, particularly with respect to...
. However, no published independent study has tested the efficacy of the program. A 2003 study found that involvement with the program led to more drawbacks than benefits for the involved families over time, though there was a strong correlation between patterns of intervention implementation and parental perceptions of intervention efficacy. A 2006 study found that the program is not always implemented as it is described in the literature, which means it will be difficult to evaluate its success/failure rate.
History
In the 1970s, Barry and Samahria Kaufman created the treatment modality for their allegedly autistic son, Raun, who had a below 30 IQMental retardation
Mental retardation is a generalized disorder appearing before adulthood, characterized by significantly impaired cognitive functioning and deficits in two or more adaptive behaviors...
. Subsequently in 1976, Barry Neil Kaufman published Son-Rise, a book recounting his son Raun's alleged recovery, which he revised and re-issued in 1995 with the title Son-Rise: The Miracle Continues. Today Raun Kaufman
Raun Kaufman
Raun Kahlil Kaufman is a teacher and writer who serves as CEO for the early Intervention therapy program Son-Rise. Son-Rise is located at the Autism Treatment Center of America, a division of the Option Institute in Sheffield, Massachusetts, which is an independent non-profit organization that...
is the CEO of the Autism Treatment Center of America. A 1997 BBC documentary followed the family of a five year old autistic boy treated by the program.
Effectiveness
Although Son-Rise had never participated in published formal scientificScientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
evaluations of effectiveness, clinical trials and a retrospective long-term study of program participants began in 2008.
Criticism and lack of cured cases
Questions have been raised whether Raun Kaufman was actually autistic before being treated. There are no documented normalizations with older children, and it may be that success "depends on a certain level of intellectual potential". Some professionals have questioned the emphasis placed on eye contact and its potential problems for some children. The consensus within the medical community is that there is no cure for autism and only a very few treatments have empirical evidence for improvements in symptoms.
A 2003 study found that involvement with the Son-Rise Program led to more drawbacks than benefits for the involved families over time, although family stress levels did not rise in all cases. A 2006 study found that the Son-Rise Program is not always implemented as it is typically described in the literature, which suggests it will be difficult to evaluate its efficacy.