The Linwood Method

Founded in 1955 by Jeanne Simons, the Linwood Children's Center is one of the oldest institutions devoted to autistic children, and has been rated as among the most successful. Graduates of Linwood include professionals and individuals who have married and have learned to integrate into society and lead happy and fulfilling lives. The Linwood method is based on respect for the autistic child as a human being and an individual. Even as the therapist's job is to teach and guide the child, he recognizes that to achieve those goals he must learn from the child and sometimes let the child lead him. In that the autistic child lacks sensitivity to others, the therapist must have extra sensitivity for the child.

Of all the programs we have visited, we found Linwood the most inspiring and the most valuable as a model for our own. Although we have added to what we learned from Linwood, especially on the theoretical level of cognitive development, it is hard to imagine ours or any other program surpassing theirs.

Therapy begins with getting to know the child. What are the child's abilities, needs, fears and likes? What are the next steps that the child is ready to take? At the same time, the therapist develops a relationship of trust and understanding with the child. As distant and cut-off as autistic children may be, such a relationship is always possible, and it is the beginning of therapy.

The goal of therapy is always the child's development, not the convenience of others or what they might like the child to be. Whatever the child's mental aptitude, whether normal or mentally handicapped, he or she has the potential to become a happy and well adjusted individual in his or her own way, and we see it as our duty to child and family to make that potential a reality. It includes not only learning new skills and gaining new understanding, but also overcoming fears and developing healthy emotions.