News

A controversial treatment programme which claims to cure children of autistic behaviour is to be funded in the UK for the first time by Stirling Council.  

The Son-Rise programme was first developed in the US by Barry and Samantha Kaufman for their son, Raun, who was diagnosed with severe autism and an IQ of less than 30. The intensive home-based method involves joining the child in their autistic behaviour and coaxing them out of it. After three years Raun showed no signs of autistic behaviour. But the programme has been criticised by health professionals and autism charities.

A spokesperson for the National Autistic Society warned that there was no known cure for autism and added: “There has not been a great deal of research into how effective the Son-Rise programme is.  Without research and scientific evaluation we can’t comment on how well the programme works.”

Stirling Council will pay Gary and Laura Galstaun £16,500 per year towards applying the Son-Rise programme to their six-year old son, Aaron. The Galstauns, from Callander, embarked on the Son-Rise approach two years ago. Gary Galstaun said: “The impact of the treatment has already been huge.”