PACT is a partnership between a therapist and you as the parent or caregiver of a neurodiverse or autistic child. A short video (around 10 minutes) of you and your child interacting or playing together is reviewed within each PACT session. The short video recordings may be made and sent to the therapist in advance or created during the session, depending on how your therapist delivers PACT. You then watch the video with the therapist, selecting and reviewing video clips together to identify and discuss your child's communication strategies. The therapist will support you in identifying positive moments and discovering what will work best for your child. The therapist guides each PACT session with step-by-step strategies to build your child's social communication skills. PACT is suitable for children who use sentences and those who use few or no words (aged 2-11 years). Children who use spoken words will also be supported in developing language and conversational skills. Please feel free to view and share the PACT parent flyer.
Before starting PACT, the therapist will offer an initial meeting to discuss your child's development and current strengths and needs. They will also ask about your experience as a family. PACT sessions will last around 1 hour, and you will see your PACT therapist for 12 sessions every two weeks for six months. You will be asked to do 30 minutes of daily practice of the PACT strategies between the sessions during play or interaction in daily activities with your child. Your therapist takes 15 minutes to preview your videos and 15 minutes to write and send you the practice programme. Further maintenance sessions are available to generalise the therapy goals into everyday life/ routines and different contexts to create sustained change.
PACT is a strength-based relationship approach that embraces your child's interests, style, and attributes, allowing them to realise their potential by promoting a more supportive interaction and environment. PACT helps you recognise your child's communication signals and the successful ways you can interact together. PACT helps empower you, connecting your unique experiences, knowledge and skills with a better understanding of and adaptation to your child. Equally, PACT helps empower your child to actively communicate their physical, emotional and psychological needs and engage in learning opportunities.
If you have a child aged 2-11 years who is showing social communication needs, signs of autism or has received an autism diagnosis, you may ask your GP, local Speech and Language department or education service if they provide PACT. If PACT is unavailable, please get in touch with us at info@pacttraining.co.uk so we can connect with your NHS service and share PACT information PACT parent flyer.
Alternatively, by searching the PACT Locations page, you may contact a PACT-trained professional who works in the public sector or has an independent practice. There may be a cost for PACT therapists working independently. Please get in touch with the office at info@pacttraining.co.uk.**
After the PACT intervention, you may be offered a further block of 12 PACT sessions or less frequent PACT maintenance sessions to continue generalising the communication techniques in daily routines. You can continue receiving support and care from health, education, and other services whilst receiving PACT. Further PACT sessions may be offered later to help your child progress in communication skills at different stages of development. Teachers and other professionals may complete Level 1 PACT training to increase their awareness and support a PACT interaction and communication style in your child's care or education setting. PACT sessions are also available for teachers in schools.