Eric Schopler

Eric Schopler (1927 – July 7 2006) was an American psychologist whose pioneering research into autism led to the foundation of the TEACCH program.

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Early life

Schopler was born of Jewish parents in Fürth, Germany. He grew up during the rise of Adolf Hitler and the subsequent persecution of the Jews. As a child he became aware of Jewish friends and teachers disappearing; these early experiences sparked in him the desire to find out why certain individuals and groups are scapegoated by others. In the late 1930's his family decided to leave Germany and emigrated to the U.S., where they settled in Rochester, New York.

Career

After graduating from high school, Schopler joined the United States Army. While enlisted he attained a graduate degree in Social Service Administration, and after leaving the army he earned a PhD in clinical child psychology at the University of Chicago. He joined the faculty of the Psychiatry department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In collaboration with Dr. Robert Reicher, he applied his earlier research on receptor processes to the treatment of autism. Funding was provided by the National Institute of Mental Health and trials were conducted with autistic children and their parents. The outcome of these trials was the creation of the TEACCH program (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children).

The early TEACCH program started 1966 and lead to many advances in knowledge about autism. Schopler showed that most autistic children did not suffer from mental disorders, as was believed by many at the time. He also proved that parents of autistic children could be effective collaborators in the treatment and education of their children. This reversed the prevalent belief by parents that the illness was psychosomatic. Thanks to these TEACCH results, in 1972 Schopler's methods were rolled out statewide in North Carolina schools and special state-funded clinics.

In 1993 Schopler received the North Carolina Award for public service.

In 1994 Schopler's psychiatric colleagues officially recognized the TEACHH program, when it was included in the Manual of Mental Disorders (Treatment Volume 4th edition). Nine TEACCH state funded clinics still operate in North Carolina, and have influenced the treatment of autism worldwide.

In August 2006, Schopler was to have received the American Psychological Foundation's Gold Medal for Life Achievement in the Application of Psychology. [1]

Eric Schopler died at the age of 79 from cancer at his home near Mebane. [2]