About DIR® and Play-Based Interventions
The P.L.A.Y. Project is a pragmatic application of the theoretical work of the noted child psychiatrist, Stanley Greenspan, MD, and his Developmental, Individualized and Relationship-oriented (DIR®) model. Dr. Solomon formally studied the DIR® approach that is designed to ‘woo’ the autistic child out of their isolation in order to increase socialization, improve language and decrease repetitive behaviors. Joint attention and the promotion of contingent interaction are at the methodological core of the DIR model, often commonly referred to as “Floortime.”
For an extensive explanation of DIR®, visit the Floortime Foundation website.
Dr. Greenspan and his associate Serena Wieder PhD have formed the Interdisciplinary Council on Learning Disorders (ICDL). Dr. Solomon is now a board member of ICDL and medical editor of the ICDL Newsletter.
Many people ask what the difference is between developmental approaches (The P.L.A.Y. Project, Floortime, Hanen) and behavioral interventions (Applied Behavioral Analysis [ABA] and discrete trial). Below is a chart comparing the characteristics of these distinct methods.
