The Importance of Evidence Based Practices and Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder attracts a range of practices, interventions, and treatments ranging from those with empirical support of positively influencing outcomes, through to those with implausible theoretical bases, evidence of ineffectiveness, or indeed harm. In this chapter, we overview, why evidence based practices (EBPs) are important in the field of autism. This includes defining evidence based practice including both the broader framework and the specific classification of practices as EBPs, and summarising recent reviews that have classified practices as EBPs. We highlight that EBPs are important in the context of the ongoing use of unsupported practices by parents, in early intervention, by teachers, and by allied health professionals. We discuss the harms associated with non-use of EBPs and use of unsupported practices including direct harm, false hope, and financial and opportunity cost. We argue that using EBPs is the ethical approach which supports human rights, but acknowledge challenges in translation to practice including terminology and classification, systems factors, and individual factors including information access and attitudes.