A GROUP FAMILY HOLIDAY : AN INNOVATION IN THE THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF THE AUTISTIC CHILD

Three “family holiday workshop” projects which are thought to be unique, have been described. In each instance the participants were eleven families, each having an autistic child, a professional consultant, and voluntary helpers. It would seem from follow‐up investigations that the family holiday workshop served the purpose for which it was originally designed, namely, to bring together families of autistic children in an effort to dispel the feeling of isolation and futility in coping with the problem of their bewildering handicapped child; to meet those needs which cannot appropriately be handled in a clinic‐‐such as providing a holiday for all members of the family; and to make available advice and assistance about their child's needs and practical ways of management. The project is evaluation in the light of its relevance in the overall management of any handicapped child.