AUTISMO: UMA AVALIAÇÃO TRANSDISCIPLINAR BASEADA NO PROGRAMA TEACCH.

Purpose: to submit a transdisciplinary approach for evaluating autistic disorders. It was based on the program referred to as Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped Children - TEACCH and its application in children pertaining to Non-Governmental Organization - Centro de Referência e Apoio às Desordens do Desenvolvimento - CRADD. Methods: six subjects who belong to the education program of the aforementioned institution, all with a positive autism diagnostic, ages between seven and twelve year old, were evaluated in three distinctive instances along the year (January, June and December). Results: the progress of each one in the areas of social interaction, behavior, cognitive aspects and language had been verified. Conclusion: one concluded that there were improvements in all investigated areas with no relationship to the degree or type of autistic disorder. Providing the effective recovery of their communicative functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]