A multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to helping those with neurological disorders, LADDERS designed an interdisciplinary program designed to provide services in the evaluation and treatment of children and adults with autism, pervasive developmental disorder and related disorders.
First developed:
Founded in 1981. The LADDERS program is under the direction of Dr. Margaret L. Bauman and Dr. R. Alan B. Ezekowitz, Chief of Pediatric Services at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).
Overall philosophy:
The LADDERS clinic seeks to address the overall needs of the child and family members by establishing the multidisciplinary therapeutic and programmatic goals of the autistic individual. The LADDERS program is born out of a philosophy that developmentally handicapped persons deserve to be viewed as individuals, each with his or her personal patterns of talents and challenges.
LADDERS uses a multidisciplinary approach that begins with comprehensive medical evaluations and extends to supporting the well-being of patients and families. Nurses, social workers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, neuropsychologists, special education professionals and family members are involved in the treatment processes in addition to the physicians. Each has a depth of expertise in their respective fields. The team, as a unit, plays an integral role in the continuum of care for individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities.
Popularity:
This Massachusetts-based clinic is very well respected and its founders have received numerous awards.
Treatment cost:
Varies; treatments are tailored to individuals. LADDERS is an organization committed to helping children receive services regardless of their economic, social and ethnic background. Friends of LADDERS is a group committed to helping to underwrite the costs associated with treatments, and to help bridge the gap between actual costs and health coverage.
Length of treatment:
Varies, dependent on the individual.
Who directs the treatment?
LADDERS brings together a team of specialists to create a treatment plan and process. Family members are an integral part of that process. With respect to the support and education of families, the LADDERS staff believe that it is crucial that families become strong advocates for their children. In order to facilitate this empowerment, parents are given appropriate information about their family member's disorder, about the community resources that are available to them, and about their rights as parents under Massachusetts education laws.
Where does the treatment take place?
The LADDERS clinic is located in Wellesley, MA and works in conjunction with Massachusetts General Hospital. The team exists on-site, each member holds advanced degrees in their field and each was recruited specifically.
Training material needed:
None indicated
Biggest success story:
In 1984, Margaret L. Bauman and Dr. Thomas L. Kemper were the first to identify neuroanatomical abnormalities in the limbic system and cerebellum in autism. These were the first observations to confirm the biological basis for autism. The Autism Research Foundation (TARF), founded in 1990, was born out of the need to insure continued funding for this research as well as the need to educate the autistic community about the importance for brain donations for research purposes.
In June 1996, TARF began its most exciting initiative to date. They brought together a small group of investigators, some of whom were directly involved in autism research and others who work in related fields, to form a "think tank" in order to discuss how to best utilize this valuable and limited brain tissue resource. It was decided that a multidisciplinary, integrated and coordinated approach would stand the best chance of maximizing the use of this tissue. To that end, the Autism Research Consortium (ARC) was formed.
Website:
http://www.ladders.org
Main Concern:
The LADDERS organization believes strongly in its program, and success depends greatly on the involvement of the family in the intensive therapies selected for the child.