PACT Intervention
PACT is an evidence-based individual video feedback intervention for children at pre- or post-diagnosis stages. PACT helps neurodivergent or autistic children, whether these exist in isolation in children who are developing normally in every other area or are associated with other difficulties. PACT is suitable for children aged 2-11 years who have spoken language or no words.
PACT works to understand, nurture and respond positively to the development and communication needs of neurodivergent and autistic children, with outcomes influenced by the quality of communication.
For parent, carer and teacher information on PACT, please see PACT Parents Flyer (PDF). For professional information on how to train to become a certified PACT practitioner, please click here.
PACT helps neurodivergent and autistic children and their teachers or caregivers interact and communicate better. PACT is a strengths-based relationship approach that embraces the child’s interests, style, and attributes, realising their potential by promoting more supportive interactions and environments. Video feedback techniques help adults recognise the child’s communication signals and the successful ways to interact with them.
PACT helps empower adults by connecting their unique experiences, knowledge, and skills to a better understanding of and adaptation to the child. PACT also helps empower children to actively communicate their physical, emotional, and psychological needs and engage in learning opportunities.
PACT therapists work with teaching assistants rather than directly with the child, using video observation and feedback methods that complement the child’s individuality and neurodiversity. PACT is available online or in face-to-face sessions in a nursery or school.
Before starting PACT, the therapist will offer an initial meeting to discuss the child’s development and current strengths and needs.
PACT sessions last around 1 hour, with a minimum of 12 sessions every two weeks for six months. Further maintenance sessions are available to generalise the therapy goals into everyday life/ routines and different contexts to create sustained change.
Teaching assistants are asked to practice the PACT strategies for 30 minutes three times a week, between PACT sessions, during play, or during interactions in daily activities.
Your therapist takes an additional 30 minutes to preview the videos and write the practice programme. Within each PACT session, a short video (around 10 minutes) of the child interacting or playing together is reviewed.
The video recording/s may be made and sent to the therapist in advance or created during the session, depending on how your therapist delivers PACT. The teaching assistant then watches the video with the therapist, selecting and reviewing video clips to identify and discuss the child’s best individual communication.
The therapist will support the teaching assistant in identifying positive moments and in discovering what works best for the child. The therapist guides each PACT session with individual step-by-step strategies to build the child’s social communication skills.
PACT is suitable for neurodivergent or autistic children who use sentences to children 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.
PACT is an international leading early intervention for neurodiversity and autism. In the only evidence of its kind, the Lancet publication shows that early PACT intervention results in improved child development, sustained six years after the end of therapy into middle childhood.
PACT works to understand, nurture and respond to neurodiverse and autistic development as part of human variation instead of “normalising” it with outcomes influenced by the quality of communication.
Book a one-hour initial consultation with a therapist