The Miller Method is an approach for children with autism that involves elevating them, literally and figuratively, to help develop their body organization, social, and communication skills. A key aspect is the use of an Elevated Square, a device that gets children off the floor and reduces stimming behaviors while requiring their attention. Another feature involves purposefully disrupting classroom routines to help children learn to cope with disorder and change. The method uses repetition and engaging the whole body to help children improve communication and social skills as well as behavioral issues. An example is provided of a child who gained his first functional word using the Miller Method within a month of starting daily sessions on the Elevated Square.

1. Miller Method
for children with Autism

2. Elevating the Child with Autism
The critically acclaimed Miller Method is a
veritable treasure trove of information,
insights, and interventions for anyone whose
life touches that of a child with autism.

3. It might raise some eyebrows, but Dr. Arnold
Miller believes in elevating children with
autism...both figuratively and literally right off
the ground.

4. In his newest book on autism spectrum
disorders, The Miller Method: Developing the
Capacities of Children on the Autism Spectrum,
Miller and his colleague Kristina Chrétien present
an entirely new perspective on advancing:
*body organization;
*social; and
*communicative skills of children diagnosed
with ASDs.

5. The Elevated Square
a device that gets the child off the floor and
markedly diminishes toe-walking, hand
flapping and aimless wandering.

6. By creating a highly defined reality that requires
the child's rapt attention to traverse it, the
Elevated Square helps counter some of the
significant challenges these children confront.

7. “Messing up" the classroom
Another feature of the method entails the
carefully gauged disruption of everyday
routines. This may include deliberately
"messing up" the classroom so that the
children experience putting it together and
learning that they can cope with disorder and
change.

8. Working on the premise that children with ASDs
learn more effectively when their whole
bodies are involved, The Miller Method covers
major issues such as communication skills and
social play, as well as day-to-day behavioral
issues including tantrums, aggression and
toilet training.

9. Let’s read one sample case of a child
benefited dramatically from this
approach 

10. Adam is a five year old delightful young boy with
autism. He enjoys long, narrow objects such
as pencils and sticks. He also enjoys looking at
and turning the wheels of small toy cars.
Adam had been at Alia for one year before we
changed his intervention program. Although
previously he had made some progress using
ABA, we were not able to help him develop his
communication using this approach.

11. We began using the Miller Method with Adam a
year ago, and within a month we got the first
functional communicative word from him. His
therapy program involved placing him on the
elevated square for a minimum of one 30-minute
session each day. He would engage in and repeat
certain activities on the board using sign language
as well as vocal instruction. The repetition and
functional use of the signs helped him to make
the connections needed to successfully
communicate with us regarding what he needed
or wanted. By using repetition and periodic
interruption of his systems (which he still was
required to complete) he learned how to
communicate with us.

13. Thank you! 
Prepared by:
Miss Vanessa G. Cabag