Autism and Alexander Technique: Using the Alexander Technique to Help People on the Autism Spectrum

Over the past twenty years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The number of adults being diagnosed with ASD is also increasing. This condition ranges from mild to severe, but most individuals with ASD experience sensory processing challenges, such as extreme sensitivity to sound, light, touch, and movement. These individuals often have difficulty receiving information from their senses and integrating this data into a meaningful whole. The Alexander Technique is ideally suited for helping people with ASD form sensory integration and body awareness, and comprises a system of physical training that is especially beneficial for people on the Autism Spectrum. The Alexander Technique is also effective for helping individuals with ASD manage the stress of their overactive nervous systems. This book explains these sensory processing issues from the perspective of an Alexander Technique teacher who has herself learned to manage these sensory challenges. Readers will learn how to use the Alexander Technique to help individuals with ASD achieve sensory integration and stress relief.

Caitlin Freeman, M.AmSAT is a professional Autism service provider. In her private practice in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Caitlin uses the Alexander Technique to work with children, teens, and adults on the Autism Spectrum. Caitlin has been a featured presenter at the Autism Society of America and other Autism support organizations, where she has lectured on the Alexander Technique as a method of sensory integration for people with ASD. Caitlin is also a faculty member in the Theatre Department at Point Park University's Conservatory of Performing Arts in Pittsburgh, where she teaches the Alexander Technique. Caitlin received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in vocal performance and theatre arts, and graduated from the Alexander Technique School New England (ATSNE), directed by Missy Vineyard. Caitlin's specialty is using the Alexander Technique, voice training, and theatre coaching to work with individuals on the Autism Spectrum.