The SCERTS Curriculum

The SCERTS® Model is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to enhancing communication and socioemotional abilities of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The acronym "SCERTS" refers to Social Communication (SC), Emotional Regulation (ER) and Transactional Support (TS). which we believe are the primary developmental dimensions to be prioritized in a program designed to support the development of children with ASD and their families. In the SCERTS® Model, it is recognized that the most meaningful learning experiences in childhood occur in everyday activities within the family and school contexts. Therefore, efforts to support a child's development should occur with a variety of partners (e.g., parents, other caregivers, brothers and sisters, other children) in everyday routines in a variety of social situations, and not primarily by working with children on training skills outside of these natural and more motivating contexts.

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The SCERTS framework has been designed to target priority goals in social communication (SC) and emotional regulation (ER) by implementing transactional supports (TS) throughout a child's daily activities and across social partners. By supporting a child's development in social communication and emotional regulation, with the strategic implementation of transactional supports, there is great potential for meaningful developmental progress for a child and his or her family in daily activities. The SCERTS Model is best implemented as a multidisciplinary approach that respects and infuses expertise from a variety of disciplines, including general and special education, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, and social work. An effective program for a child with ASD based on the SCERTS Model requires the expertise of a team of professionals working in a carefully coordinated manner and in a collaborative partnership with parents and family members.

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The Early Intervention Program is scheduled daily (excluding weekends) lasting for three hours and it essentially focuses on children up to the age of 7 years. This helps them become increasingly competent and active participants and partner in social activities. This includes communicating and playing with others in everyday activities and deriving joy and pleasure in social relationships with children and adults.