Theoretical–Methodological Foundations for the Global Integration Method (Método de Integração Global—MIG) in the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Renato Guimarães Loffi,
Thalita Karla Flores Cruz,
Giulia Moreira Paiva,
Deisiane Oliveira Souto,
Simone Rosa Barreto,
Patrícia Aparecida Neves Santana,
Amanda Aparecida Alves Cunha Nascimento,
Fabiana Rachel Martins Costa,
Elisa Braz Cota,
Vitor Geraldi Haase
Affiliations
Renato Guimarães Loffi
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Thalita Karla Flores Cruz
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Giulia Moreira Paiva
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Deisiane Oliveira Souto
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Simone Rosa Barreto
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Patrícia Aparecida Neves Santana
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Amanda Aparecida Alves Cunha Nascimento
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Fabiana Rachel Martins Costa
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Elisa Braz Cota
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Vitor Geraldi Haase
Instituto de Neurodesenvolvimento, Cognição e Educação Inclusiva (INCEI), TREINITEC Ltda., Rua Carmélia Loffi 17, Justinópolis, Ribeirão das Neves 33900-730, MG, Brazil
Currently, there is no intervention model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that addresses all levels and factors of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF, WHO). The most researched programs focus on naturalistic, developmental and behavioral approaches to socio-communication. Less attention has been paid to motor and environmental reactivity aspects (behavior/interest restriction and sensory reactivity). The evidence rationale for the Global Integration Method (MIG, “Método de Integração Global”), a model addressing sensorimotor reactivity in addition to socio-communication, is presented. MIG is an integrative, interdisciplinary, family-oriented intervention and naturalistic program that addresses all levels and moderating factors of ASD’s impact. MIG’s theoretical rationale is based on the predictive coding impairment and embodied cognition hypotheses. MIG incorporates both bottom-up (flexible therapeutic suit, social-motor synchronization) and top-down (schematic social information processing, narratives, imagery) strategies to promote the building and use of accurate, flexible and context-sensitive internal predictive models. MIG is based on the premises that predictive coding improves both socio-communication and environmental reactivity, and that the postural stabilization provided by the flexible therapeutic suit frees information processing resources for socio-cognitive learning. MIG builds on interdisciplinary, professionally and parentally mediated work based on behavioral principles of intensive training in a situated environment.