What is P.L.A.Y. Project™ Home Consultation Program?

The P.L.A.Y. Project™
Play and
Language for
Autistic
Youngsters

Parents spend more time with their children than all of their teachers and therapists combined.  By training parents to be their child’s best P.L.A.Y. Partner, the child receives intensive (more hours) quality intervention.

The P.L.A.Y. Project™ is an early intervention program for young children (ages 18 months to 7 years) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).  This program is based on the DIR® (Developmental, Individualized, Relationship-based) theory of Stanley Greenspan, M.D., the practice of which is commonly referred to as “Floor Time”.

The P.L.A.Y. Project™ Home Consultation Program at Children’s Therapy Corner provides training and support for families of children with autism spectrum disorders right in their home.  Trained Consultants teach parents techniques that are effective, fun and useful in day-to-day interactions with their child with autism.  

The program consists of 3-hour visits every four to six weeks in the families’ homes to model/train parents on how to provide intensive, one-on-one, play-based services to their child.  Consultants teach parents techniques that are effective, fun, and useful in day-to-day interactions with their child. 

By providing services in the home, consultants are able to meet the child in an environment where they feel comfortable, rather than in a setting unfamiliar and possibly intimidating to the child.

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What Is The P.L.A.Y. Project?

Created by Dr. Richard Solomon and based on the DIR™ (Developmental, Individualized, Relationship-oriented) theory of Dr. Stanley Greenspan. The program emphasizes the importance of helping parents become their child’s best P.L.A.Y. partner.

The P.L.A.Y Project’s mission is to promote early identification and intervention for children within the autistic spectrum.  To educate the communities your child lives and participates in and to support the families through a parent professional partnership.

The P.L.A.Y. Project follows the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) recommendations for the education of young children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD).  NAS recommends that parents and professionals:

• Begin interventions early (18 months to 5 years)
• Use intensive intervention 25 hours per week
• Have a teacher/play partner to child ratio of 1:1 or 1:2
• Use interventions that are engaging and have a strategic direction (e.g. social skills, language, etc.)

The D.I.R. model is designed to ‘woo’ your child out of their isolation in order to increase socialization, improve language and decrease repetitive behaviors. 

If you are interested in learning more about this organization and its background visit www.playproject.org.

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How would I setup a program for my child?

The first step for parents is to establish a provisional diagnosis of an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) for their child.  This evaluation can be completed by the school system your child is or will be attending, or by a knowledgeable professional.

Diagnostic office consultations with Richard Solomon, MD, the Medical Director of the P.L.A.Y. Project, are readily available through The Ann Arbor Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.  Parents who have a firm or provisional diagnosis do not need to see Dr. Solomon to enroll in The P.L.A.Y. Project.

The second step is to contact a facility offering the P.L.A.Y Project, such as Children’s Therapy Corner, and express your desire to learn more about P.L.A.Y. Project.

Children’s Therapy Corner will schedule a no charge consultation for you and your family to visit our nearest location and share with us the concerns and needs that you have for your child. Contract review and program specifics will also be shared at this meeting.

The third and final step would be to complete a services agreement and schedule your first visit. The first visit will be at our nearest office location and is open to all those individuals who touch your child’s life.  At this session we will be taking information that helps us gather knowledge about your child.

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Resources

Information regarding P.L.A.Y. Project™
The P.L.A.Y. Project™:        www.playproject.org

General Autism Resources
Your Child:  www.med.umich.edu/1libr/yourchild/autism.htm
National Academy Press Report on Educating Young Children with Autism:  www.nap.edu/books/0309072697/html/

Information regarding Stanley Greenspan, MD’s DIR Model and Floor time
Floor time Foundation:      www.floortime.org
Stanley Greenspan MD & the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders:           www.icdl.com

Autism Societies
Autism Society of America:  www.autism-society.org

Awareness, Early Recognition and Intervention
Autism Speaks:            www.autismspeaks.org
First Signs:                   www.firstsigns.org

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