It wasn't until recently that I started thinking that maybe there is more we could and should be doing. DIR/Floortime? RDI? What's the difference? Would these be feasible for Alex? In March we participated in an Autism study and the psychologist who did some testing on Alex suggested that DIR/Floortime could be very beneficial to him.
In early March I received the new paperback release of Engaging Autism: Using the Floortime Approach to Help Children Relate, Communicate, and Think
. Stanley Greenspan authors this book which was published in hardcover version in 2006. The paperback is now available by DaCapo/Lifelong books priced at $18. So, it is now early May. Yes, I've been remiss in posting because it actually took me 2 full months to get through this weighty book. OK, I also stopped and read a few other books along the way (Jenny McCarthy's and LeeAnn's books to name a few). Engaging Autism, while interesting - is a lot to read. At 400+ large pages in small font and 28 chapters - this one took some time.Worth it? You betcha.
If you are unfamiliar with Greenspan's DIR/Floortime approach - in a nutshell it is following your child's lead - entering into "their world" and fostering a connection and building on that. I think that people hear "floortime" and that conjurs up an image of Circle-time or playtime at pre-school and will think that this is an approach only for the youngest of children. However, know that it is not and there are actually 2 dedicated chapters in this book specifically on using Floortime with older children, adolescents, and adults.
An observation that I made repeatedly while reading this is that my husband using Floortime methods with both of the kids (my autistic son and my neurotypical daughter) when playing with them all the time. Now, he knows nothing about floortime (that I know of) this is just the way he is - he gets onto their level and he plays really crazy games with them that elicit such remarkable amounts of laughter and joy that I can't help but be a little jealous. It was when reading this book that I put a bunch of pieces together and connected that what he is doing is Floortime and that I could do it too (probably not as crazy and fun though).
Engaging Autism
shares the ins and outs of Floortime. Why it works, how it works, how to do it, and specific strategies. The book focuses on using a strict floortime approach, which would not be really feasible in our case as it is not something normally paid for by the school district (unless you sue them for it) and any expenses of hiring someone to teach and work with us on this would come out of pocket. Still, the book teaches strategies that families and caregivers can use to employ "the Floortime approach" on their own. I like that this really is a child-centered approach, very positive, and the whole family can be involved.The last third (Part V) of Engaging Autism
was actually the most helpful and interesting to me. This portion of the book deals specifically with "overcoming difficult symptoms". It is in this area that I feel we have the most to gain from Floortime and where the schools Verbal Behavior and ABA methods are not meeting our needs. Greenspan addresses scripting, echolalia, behavior problems, meltdowns, regressions, stimming, social skills, coping with feelings & new challenges, among other "biggies" as I'd call them (like toilet training and autism). I look forward to employing some of the techniques that I learned in this book with Alex and will report back on progress!I'd recommend this book to parents who are seeking additional strategies to work with their child with autism, particularly if they find that a strict ABA approach isn't cutting it. And, I'd love to hear from my readers here if you have had an experience with Floortime - good or bad, your thoughts on this approach... share!
4 comments:
Nobody ever said you couldn't chase the kids and try to eat their brains.
(And yes, that's one of my floor time methods. I did it once and Alex kept wanting to play it. Since I was of the opinion that any playing with people is better for him than playing with the computer, I kept at it. Plus, when the zombie attack finally comes, I figure my kids will be able to escape while the zombies luncheon upon less-trained people.)
I may be coming and getting the list of all these books if it turns out that Nathan does have Autism. At this point - there are signs, but he can be sociable. His therapists don't think he is because he points and will make eye contact, but his DRs (who don't see him weekly) think that he may be on the higher functioning area of the spectrum. Me, I'm torn. Today I had a fleeting thought of not following through with the evaluation, thinking I would just be wasting their time... blah blah... then the Mommy in me said things like, but if you go through it and find out something IS wrong, you'd kick yourself for not doing it - anything to help him, right?
Sounds like a great book! Nigel was in an intensive modified ABA program for 3 years that was immensely helpful. I'm sure Floortime would have been as well, had it been around at the time of his diagnosis (97). But, like your husband, all of the adult family members in Nigel's life all used Floortime-type of techniques to engage him back in those days, and it was very helpful.
I can't agree more with you about this book, although it is a weighty volume to get through. I'm still trying to finish it, so kudos to you!
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