For whatever it’s worth, Eric Fombonne contributed to this paper which glowingly describes the “evidence-based” success of Applied Behavior Analysis, which also is one of two “evidence-based” treatments (the other being Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention) backed by the Association for Science in Autism Treatment, on whose advisory board Fombonne sits.
My blog search isn’t working yet, so I can’t link my earlier posts, but what’s always bothered me about claims of “evidence-based” treatment is that the claim always seems to be made based solely upon the outward behavior, with no longitudinal followup on subjective reports of quality of life. Combine that with the anecdata from actually autistic people who decry the use of behaviorist treatment upon them when they were kids, and I can’t swallow the “evidence”.
Parenthetically, I should note that the above-linked paper itself notes, “Studies of outcomes among adults with ASD consistently show low to modest levels of independence and/or social inclusion among both higher- and lower-functioning individuals.” The paper makes no mention of how its contributors square that with the “evidence-based” success of their recommended treatments.