The complete guide
Autism therapy at home — what works, and how to start
You don't need a clinic, a waitlist, or a six-figure budget to help your autistic child grow. This is a free, family-led guide to the five most-used autism therapy approaches — and the techniques you can begin using today, in your living room.
Why family-led therapy works
- You are with your child every day — therapy that happens at home compounds faster than 1–2 weekly clinic sessions.
- Every approach on this site is evidence-based and used by licensed therapists worldwide.
- Free. No subscriptions, no ads, no upsells.
- Written in plain language for parents — no clinical jargon, no gatekeeping.
The five approaches, at a glance
Each one has a different center of gravity — behavior, relationship, structure, flexibility, or sensory regulation. Learn them all and you'll know which lens to reach for in any moment.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Reinforce what works. Break big skills into doable steps.
Building communication, daily-living, and self-regulation skills across all support levels.
Read the guideDIR/Floortime
Meet your child on the floor. Follow their lead. Build connection first.
Children who need stronger emotional connection, back-and-forth communication, and symbolic play — especially helpful at Levels 1 and 2.
Read the guideTEACCH Structured Teaching
Make the world visual, predictable, and clear.
Children who get overwhelmed by ambiguity, transitions, or verbal instructions — especially helpful at Levels 2 and 3.
Read the guideRelationship Development Intervention
Grow flexible, dynamic thinking through shared experience.
Children who have foundational skills but struggle with flexibility, perspective-taking, and adapting to new situations — most helpful at Level 1.
Read the guideSensory Integration
Regulate the body first. Learning follows.
Every child on the spectrum benefits from sensory awareness — especially helpful when meltdowns, avoidance, or seeking behaviors dominate the day.
Read the guideStart where your child is
The same approach plays out differently at different support levels. Pick the level that fits — or read all three.
Level 1 — Requiring Support
Communication works but social nuance, flexibility, and organization are challenging.
Level 2 — Requiring Substantial Support
Communication is limited or scripted. Routines and predictability help everything.
Level 3 — Requiring Very Substantial Support
Significant communication and self-care needs. Connection, safety, and regulation lead.
Approaches
Five evidence-based frameworks
Support levels
Strategies tuned to Level 1, 2, 3
Activities
Step-by-step things to do today
Track what's working for your child
Create a free AuSnap account to save approaches, log sessions in your private journal, and get new techniques as we publish them.
Start free — it takes 30 seconds