Soma Mukhopadhyay Explained

Soma Mukhopadhyay is an Indian educator and the creator of Rapid Prompting Method. Her use of RPM with her autistic son Tito Mukhopadhyay garnered media attention in America in the late 1990s and early 2000s.^[1]

Career

Mukhopadhyay came to the United States in 2001. In 2003, Mukhopadhyay gained recognition when featured on the popular news program 60 Minutes. She joined Helping Autism through Learning and Outreach (HALO) in Texas in 2005. She also hosts workshops involving RPM worldwide. RPM was featured in an Apple Inc. commercial, which led to further controversy over her technique.^{[2] [3]}

Individualized approach and learning channels

It has been noted that Mukhopadhyay gives a high rate of verbal, gestural, and physical prompts even to the most independent students, and uses circular logic to explain why she claims RPM is legitimate.^[4] Mukhopadhyay has also acknowledged that a teacher who wants to move quickly could accidentally guide the student's arm through touch, when that is not allowed in RPM.^[5]

Recognition

Apart from her work with Tito, Mukhopadhyay's involvement with autistic individuals expanded when she was invited by the Cure Autism Now foundation. The release of the BBC documentary "Tito's Story" highlighted their personal experiences, leading to a fellowship offer from the foundation to extend her work with autistic children.^[6]

Publications

• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Understanding Autism Through Rapid Prompting Method . 2008 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-4327-2928-8 . en.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Curriculum Guide for Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method: With Lesson Plan Suggestions . 2011 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-4327-7461-5 . en.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Developing Communication for Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method: Guide for Effective Language . 2013 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-4787-1313-5 . First . English.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Growing Sensory Tolerance Using Rapid Prompting Method . 2018 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-9772-0364-9 . English.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Developing Motor Skills for Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method: Steps to Improving Motor Function . 2014 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-4787-2841-2 . en.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Developing Expressive Language in Verbal Students With Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method . 2016 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-4787-7119-7 . English.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Harnessing Stims and Behaviors in Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method . 2015 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-4787-5427-5 . en.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Mathematical Concepts For Autism Using Rapid Prompting Method . 2016 . Outskirts Press . 978-1-4787-7954-4 . en.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Developing the Visual Skill of Reading using Rapid Prompting Method . 2017 . English.
• Book: Mukhopadhyay . Soma . Learning Life Skills Using Rapid Prompting Method - Part 1 . 2017 . English.

External links

• HALO

Notes and References

1. Book: Todd, James T. . Old Horses in New Stables . Foxx . Richard M. . Mulick . James A. . 2015 . Controversial Therapies for Autism and Intellectual Disabilities: Fad, Fashion, and Science in Professional Practice . Routledge . 374 . 9781317623830.
2. News: Montague . Jules . Apple's 2017 Webby-nominated ad featured autism pseudoscience . 17 July 2019 . The Verge . 9 January 2018.
3. Web site: Kreidler . Marc . Syracuse, Apple, and Autism Pseudoscience . Skeptical Inquirer . 17 July 2019 . 28 April 2016.
4. Tostanoski . Amy . Lang . Russell . Raulston . Tracy . Carnett . Amarie . Davis . Tonya . 2014 . Voices from the past: Comparing the rapid prompting method and facilitated communication . Developmental Neurorehabilitation . 17 . 4 . 219–223 . 10.3109/17518423.2012.749952. 24102487 . free .
5. Schlosser . Ralf . Hemsley . Bronwyn . Bronwyn Hemsley . Shane . Howard . Todd . James . Lang . Russell . Lilienfeld . Scott . Trembath . David . Mostert . Mark . Fong . Seraphine . Odom . Samuel . 2019 . Rapid prompting method and autism spectrum disorder: Systematic review exposes lack of evidence . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders . 6 . 4 . 403–412 . 10.1007/s40489-019-00175-w .
6. Web site: Tito breaks the silence . . 24 December 2008.