Using a multidisciplinary approach with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

Using a multidisciplinary approach can be a key factor in initiatives designed to increase the effectiveness of health care services currently offered to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although healthcare delivery in the United States uses a multidisciplinary approach, it has been found that interprofessional collaboration between disciplines does not always take place resulting in practitioners working independently of each other. Due to the growing complexity of autism and the number of different professions that work with these individuals, there is a need for improved interprofessional collaboration using a multidisciplinary approach. In order to be successful in promoting interprofessional collaboration, health care workers need to develop ways to challenge and dispel the notion of profession-centrism by embracing the professional cultures of their colleagues and reducing the barriers to multidisciplinary training. A synthesis of findings from the research indicated that there are a limited number of disciplines collaborating using a multidisciplinary approach and working with children with autism.