Two South Coast autism researchers known around the world for the groundbreaking treatment program they developed received national honors for their work.
Bob and Lynn Koegel created what’s known as Pivotal Response Treatment, or PRT, a type of therapy used to help children with autism learn social skills so they can function in the world.
The Koegels were honored by the Association of Behavior Analysis at the group’s annual convention in Chicago for their work over the decades. Before the development of PRT, the answer to autism was often such ineffective efforts like institutionalization and shock treatments. PRT is now used as a treatment around the world.
The Koegels are based at UC Santa Barbara, where they have the UCSB Koegel Autism Center.