I CAN PLAY

“Early Intervention” might be the provider’s way of describing services that they provide to babies or young children. However, it might also indicate that the provider is a vendor for your state’s publicly funded program. This means the services with this provider might be covered by your state! 

The first step in accessing these free services from your state is to get an evaluation. The evaluation will help the state determine what services your child qualifies for, if any. You can find your state’s local EI program by clicking here.

When you contact your local center, say “I have concerns about my child’s development and I would like to have my child evaluated to find out if they are eligible for early intervention services.” They will ask screening questions and arrange for an evaluation, which is provided for free.

Here are a few alternative options to consider:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps by identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It's useful for those dealing with social anxiety or difficulties. CBT addresses cognitive patterns and provides strategies to manage social challenges.
• Group therapy: Group therapy offers a supportive space where individuals can practice social skills. They can feedback from peers and a therapist. It allows interaction with others who understand and learn from each other.
• Play-based interventions: Play therapy or play-based interventions work well for younger children or those who learn through experiences. Play activities target specific social skills like turn-taking and problem-solving in a safe and engaging setting.

Even if a provider offers parent training, it may look different from one provider to another. For example, an in-home provider might conduct a parent training session directly following a therapy session with your child to help explain what they’ve been working on with your child. At larger organizations, you might have a support group of families who are dealing with similar issues.

It has become more common! While some families try DIR/Floortime on its own, it can be done in combination with other therapies, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. Many families enjoy incorporating exercises from DIR/Floortime with other therapies. Many therapists and providers like to include DIR/Floortime’s play and child-led approach into their practices.

DIR/Floortime has some research to support its effectiveness, though this is limited. In a 2019 study, researchers published positive outcomes as a result of DIR/Floortime, including increased joint attention and initiation of activities.

DIR/Floortime is currently considered to be an experimental treatment. As of the 2015 publishing of the National Standards Project on evidence-based treatments, DIR/Floortime was listed under the “unestablished level of evidence” category. While Floortime can benefit some children, more research is needed to establish efficacy. Our expert recommends Affect Autism to learn more about the research behind DIR/Floortime.