Treatment is based on purposeful movement that causes the individual to respond adaptively and requires a response that is more mature than the previous one. Children who experience learning difficulties have inadequate integration of vestibular and proprioceptive inputs. The main purpose of the curriculum is to teach the child with autism communication skills versus speech skills. The center at Chapel Hill, North Carolina was the first institution to provide nationwide training programmes for parents and professionals. Yearly training programmes are conducted for people interested in working with autism, the duration is usually for a week.
Interventions are individualized.
The training is very hands on and lectures are kept to the minimum. The intervention shifts from expressive language to enhancing the receptive language of the child. The tools thus developed help the child in understanding the every day demands which ultimately would lead to effective communication. Persons trained in AIT are only allowed to carry out the programme for the child. Dr. Bernard Rimland, a parent, and professional endorses the methodology.