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Davis Autism Approach®

A clearer path through a world that can feel confusing or overwhelming

A highly personalised approach that helps autistic individuals explore themselves, their environment and the concepts that shape everyday life.

With experiential learning, hands-on tools, and individualised support, the Davis Autism Approach® helps you develop understanding while respecting the individual.

Spend 20–30 minutes talking with Claire about your situation, asking questions and exploring whether the Davis Autism Approach® may be appropriate for you or your loved one.

No pressure. No obligation. Just an opportunity to talk things through.

When Everyday Life Feels Harder Than It Should

You may be supporting an autistic child, teenager, or adult and wondering why certain parts of everyday life seem so difficult.

You may have tried other approaches and still be looking for something that feels respectful, individualised and genuinely suited to the person in front of you.

There may be another way to explore these challenges.

You or your child may: 

  • find changes or changes in routine difficult to navigate

  • feel confused or overwhelmed by the world around them

  • find emotions difficult to understand

  • experience challenges with relationships or communication

  • find social situations difficult to interpret

  • experiences stress or overwhelm

  • finds it difficult to feel confident or in control

  • needs support developing greater independence

A Different Way of Looking at Autism

Autism doesn't need to be something that needs fixing.

At Growing Choices, the Davis Autism Approach® starts from a different perspective.

The focus is not on changing who someone is.

Instead, the approach provides opportunities to explore a greater understanding of:

  • themselves

  • their environment

  • everyday experiences

  • relationships

  • emotions

  • and the concepts that shape life and learning.

The programme is highly personalised, taking into account the individual, their needs, interests, goals, and pace.

The overall purpose is simple: To support the individual to participate fully in life.

How Can Claying Concepts Help?

Thinking with ideas through clay.

The Davis Autism Approach® uses hands-on clay modelling as part of an experiential learning process.

Instead of only talking about an abstract idea, the individual can experience and explore the concept through clay.

Concept →

Experience through clay →

Layer into identity →

Connect to everyday life

Every person is different, so the concepts explored and the pace of the programme are individualised.

What Makes the Davis Autism Approach® Different?

A respectful, highly personalised approach

Highly Personalised

Every programme is shaped around the individual — their experiences, strengths and goals.

Experiential

Understanding grows through doing, exploring and experiencing — not simply being told what to do.

Holistic

We look at the whole person, including how they experience learning, communication and everyday life.

Non-Behavioural

The focus is on understanding what sits beneath behaviour rather than simply trying to change it.

Supportive

Parents and caregivers are included so understanding can continue beyond the programme.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Who can benefit from the Davis Autism Approach®?

The Davis Autism Approach® is designed for autistic individuals aged eight years and over who have either receptive language or for those who have limited language or who are non-verbal.

If an individual does not yet have receptive language, Growing Choices is still able to provide support; their journey simply begins with more 'pre-work' learning and experiencing the Davis® Orientation focus tools. The programme can be fully facilitated, or coached and facilitated. Either way, support training is also part of every programme.

Not sure which pathway is right?

That's exactly what the initial conversation is for.

You don't need to work everything out before contacting Claire.

What Can the Programme Support?

Supporting greater understanding in everyday life

The Davis Autism Approach® is designed around the individual, so every person's journey is different.

The programme may support areas such as:

  • Greater Understanding

  • Confidence

  • Wellbeing

  • Relationships

  • Resilience

  • Independence

  • A Greater Sense of Control 

  • Participating Fully in Life

It's to support the individual in developing an understanding that can help them participate more fully in their own life.

.

Real Experiences. Real Journeys.

WHAT YOU ARE INVESTING IN

More Than a Series of Sessions

The Davis Autism Approach® is a highly personalised journey, shaped around each individual’s needs, strengths and goals.

It includes:

  • Detailed consultation and preparation

  • 60–80 hours of personalised programme work

  • Hands-on learning through clay

  • Support and coaching for parents or caregivers

  • Applying learning to everyday life

  • Follow-up support

The goal is to help the individual understand, experience and apply their learning so they can participate more fully in life.

No pressure. No obligation. Just an opportunity to explore what might be possible.

Meet Claire Ashmore

Educator & Davis Autism Approach® Facilitator

Claire Ashmore is an experienced educator with more than 40 years of experience supporting children, teens, adults and families.

She holds a Master’s in Applied Linguistics, a Diploma in Teaching (Primary), Dip.TESL, and CELTA, and is a licensed Davis® Facilitator and Davis Autism Approach® Facilitator.

Through Growing Choices, Claire provides highly personalised, strength-based support, helping autistic individuals and their families explore new ways of understanding learning, everyday experiences and participation in life.

Her programmes are designed around the individual's needs, interests, goals and pace, with parents, caregivers and other support people involved where appropriate.

FAQ

For autistic individuals 8+ whether they have receptive language or are non-speaking.

Clay provides a hands-on concrete way to explore concepts and think with ideas.

It focuses on understanding, experiential learning and development to support the autistic individual to participate fully in life.

The programme involves approximately 60–80 hours and may extend over 6 months or longer.

Yes. Caregivers and support people can participate where appropriate.

Yes. It can be delivered in person or online where appropriate.

A FREE Learning Solutions Conversation lets you ask questions and explore suitability before making any decisions.

No. The call is simply an opportunity to understand the approach.

Yes, Davis Methods can work with a child who doesn’t yet have receptive language.

Ready to talk it through?

You don't need to have all the answers.
Start with a conversation.

Free Learning Solutions Conversation

Spend 20–30 minutes talking with Claire about your situation, asking questions and exploring whether the Davis Autism Approach® may be appropriate for you or your loved one.

No pressure. No obligation. Just an opportunity to talk things through and see whether the Davis Autism Approach® may be the right fit for you or your loved one.