Toronto -Easing Anxiety Together with Understanding and Perseverance (EAT-UP)

Increasing Food Acceptance and Decreasing Challenging Behaviours for Children with Autism Using the EAT-UP™ Intervention Model 

Food refusal and challenging mealtime behaviours can place significant stress for parents of children with autism. This workshop will review the current research of a feeding intervention approach: Easing Anxiety Together with Understanding and Perseverance (EAT-UP™), a parent centered intervention model used to safely promote food acceptance and decrease challenging mealtime behaviours at home. The EAT-UP™ intervention addresses four domains: communication, social environment, physical environment and manipulation of food. Intervention strategies to promote food acceptance and decrease challenging mealtime behaviours will also be discussed, with case examples. 
 

Ling is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst with 15 years of direct clinical experience implementing

ABA for individuals diagnosed with autism and developmental disabilities. She is an OAP Clinical

Supervisor for several providers and is a research faculty member at Seneca College's Autism and

Behavioural Sciences Program. Ling is extensively trained in the application of Verbal Behaviour to

teach language and communication, PECS, and other electronic AAC communication devices for non

verbal children and youth. Her knowledge and experience also extends to the Early Start Denver

Model (ESDM) and Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT).