The Play Project  approach to Early Intervention is supposedly getting recognition in our country and abroad as an alternative to the mainstream Early Intervention as it is predominantly practiced today, and specifically as the alternative to the dehumanizing and segregating practice of ABA and its derivatives in Early Intervention.

‘The Play Project’ [is the name of a program] was initiated in 2001 by Dr. Solomon in Michigan, which according to some sources, without loud words is changing the approach to Early autistic intervention. In essence it is claimed to completely revolutionize the concept of intervention, where it is the parents and caregivers and not the autistic children who are intervened with and being taught to learn about the ways of their child and how to interact with autistic child on the terms that are nourishing and beneficial to all.

If this program indeed follows in the principles outlined in the Agenda of Autistic Rights,  We will consider a motion to move this project to the next step, looking at the ways to promote this alternative, including advocating for the insurance coverage in various states, and evaluating the plausibility of its methodology for older populations.

We need Volunteers to evaluate the various aspects of  this project in depth, specifically looking both at the methods as well as the objectives of the program, making sure that it’s goals are not rooted in the same old ‘normalization of autistic child’ and ‘behavior modification’ agenda.  We also are looking for people who had exposure to this program and could offer their opinions & testimonials.

Update May 2017

Originally the ‘Play Project’ professed their compliance with ABA methodology, but lately we find no such references. Their Play methodology is not as clear to decipher as it is seemingly still evolving, hopefully towards natural child development rather than to meet behavioral goals.  The Play project is experiencing some growth, recently opening a new center in Columbus, Ohio, and providing an expanded list of certified practitioners.  Their approach is to use a trained practitioner working at the home of a child.  The Play Project’s view of autism is however still of a Disorder and this mindset is imbued in a practitioner, which in our opinion, would effectively inhibit the parent from achieving the emotional state that is necessary for the desired connection with the child. Their emphasis is also on the child intervention and not the emotional atmosphere that is a cause of the problem. Furthermore it relies on practitioners who may differ widely in their ability and experience, and may not be prepared to understand the emotional causes of child’s difficulties.