Seattle company develops computer network for behavioral therapy for children with autism

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports on a company called Jigsaw Learning, which is creating a computer network to aid in behavioral therapy, which is one of the most popular treatments for children with autism.

"Around Seattle and the nation, demand often outstrips the supply of trained and qualified autism therapists," the P-I reports.

Instead, children with autism can access Jigsaw's TeachTown computer network for behavioral therapy. Although the children aren't able to do everything they could with a live therapist, the network allows them to work on some social and cognitive problems.

Behavioral therapy for children with autism is extremely expensive and typically not covered by health insurance. Some parents say they spend $30,000, $40,000 and $50,000 a year on applied behavior analysis.

"With TeachTown, families pay about $40 a month to subscribe to its system, which promises some -- though not all -- of the elements of popular behavioral therapy," according to the P-I.

TeachTown developed from the Jigsaw founders' desire to combine their background in creating video games with helping children with autism.

With the program, the child logs on to work through exercises targeted to his or her stage of development. The program features an online town, and the child clicks on icons of red, yellow and blue houses, a playground or a zoo to start the exercises.