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Our
Approach
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Family First is licensed to
use the P.L.A.Y. Project® model, created by developmental
pediatrician, Dr. Richard Solomon. This systematic method of
training is based on the Developmental, Individual differences,
Relationship-based approach (DIR®
/Floortime™) developed by Dr.
Stanley Greenspan and Dr. Serena Weider. DIR® is a
relationship-based model that gives parents the tools to
recognize and understand their child’s unique individual
differences and to facilitate play in specific ways to increase
their child’s developmental capacities. |
Research Support
for the PLAY Project® Model:
Dr. Solomon conducted
a research study consisting of a program evaluation of 400
families over a period of 5 years. A pilot of the first 74
children in this model of ages 44 months (20 months to 6
years), all diagnosed with ASD by the DSM IV was
completed.
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The
families were videotaped at baseline and again at 9 to 12
months by raters blind to clinical information. The
Functional Emotional Assessment Scale (FEAS) was used
along with the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), as
well as a clinical rating of progress.
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On
the FEAS 46% of children showed good to excellent outcomes
and 32% fair. 85%
of parents were more sensitive to their children’s cues
and parent satisfaction rating was 87%.
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Based
on these outcomes the National Institute of Mental Health
has awarded Dr. Solomon the sponsorship of a robust
clinical trial of the P.L.A.Y. Project® consisting of a
randomized controlled design, which commenced at 20 sites
in 2006. |
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What
is DIR®?
Functional emotional DEVELOPMENTAL
capacities |
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1. Regulation and interest
in the world- focus on shared attention
2. Engaging and relating: recognizing patterns and
organizing perceptions
3. Intentionality and two-way purposeful interactions:
transforming emotions into signals for communication
4. Complex communication - shared social problem solving;
formation of sense of self
5. Creating symbols and using words and ideas; functional
use of ideas and symbols in imaginative play
6. Building logical bridges between ideas: emotional
thinking; sense of reality |
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INDIVIDUAL |
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All of us are unique in
the way we experience the world through our senses.
Children with special needs often have unique differences
in the way they react to sensations, organize movement and
processes and comprehend what they hear and see. Family
First professionals tailor our intervention to both the
child’s developmental level and to his or her individual
differences. |
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RELATIONSHIP-based |
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Because
relationships are essential to learning, Family First recognizes
that it is through primary relationships that the child
develops the ability to joyfully relate, share interest and
communicate with others. Because the core deficit of autism lies in
a child’s ability to relate and communicate, our
intervention is relationship-based. Professionals work alongside
parents to promote joyful and sustained interactions with
their child. |
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