«Mummy, Let’s Make Coffee…»
Ettore Caterino, Maria Luisa Gava, Susanna Bartali
The c.m.i.® methodology, an Italian approach that was conceived as another look into the field of complex neuropathologies, is the result of a process of integration of different disciplines and rehabilitation sectors, namely: psychomotricity, AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) and the current neurosciences. The article highlights the learning path of reality according to the C.M.I.® methodology by ML Gava in a child accessing the service at 15 months with a diagnosis of high risk of autism spectrum disorder. This work proposes a therapeutic programme that initially involves the child in a learning process relating to the procedure of making coffee in the clinic. In this procedural process the child is able to build their own points of reference in relation to the elements used (the «what»: objects in the room, the «where»: drawers, desk, electrical socket, the «when»: order of sequences etc.) and to structure motor steps which are organized and finalized at learning the entire process. In the second phase, the parent is involved in learning the same procedure of «making coffee» at home, through a coaching phase aimed at the parent and observation of the video-recorded sessions of the mother and child interaction. At the end of the intervention, the child shows a clear improvement in communicative intentionality and language, as emerges from the scores on the ADOS Scale and as witnessed by the caregiver, who reports a clear change in the child’s participation and interest in daily life in interactions with their parents.
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Experience, Language, Parental coaching, Cognitive–motivational–individualized approach c.m.i.®.