Developing Overhand Throwing Skills for a Child With Autism With a Collaborative Approach in School-Based Therapy

PURPOSE: This case report presents an interdisciplinary approach in school-based therapy, combining physical therapy and applied behavior analysis to improve the motor skills and the participation in recreational activities of a child with autism spectrum disorder. METHODS: A 9-year-old child with autism spectrum disorder participated in a 20-week gross motor intervention designed to improve the child's overhand throwing ability, which included weekly physical therapy instruction and daily throwing trials using applied behavior analysis approaches. RESULTS: The child demonstrated gains in throwing accuracy, significant gains on measures of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-2, the Test of Gross Motor Development-2, and the School Function Assessment. CONCLUSION: This unique approach in school-based therapy demonstrates effective strategies for a multidisciplinary intervention to improve motor learning skills and participation in recreational activities in the school setting.