The P.L.A.Y. Project began in 2001, when Richard Solomon, MD, created an affordable early intervention program for young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Ann Arbor, MI. As a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, Dr. Solomon realized that families who received a diagnosis needed guidance, support and effective treatment options.
Dr. Solomon designed The P.L.A.Y. Project Home Consulting program as a response to the lack of services in his community and across the country. He saw that most families could not afford to pay $40,000 to $60,000 per year for the intensive interventions recommended for young children with ASD. The P.L.A.Y. Project, by comparison, trains parents to provide the hours of intervention their children need, reducing the cost to around $4,000 per year.
The National Academy of Sciences recommendations for the education of young children with autistic spectrum disorders states that parents and professionals should:
- Begin interventions early (18 months to 5 years)
- Use intensive intervention 25 hours per week
- Have an adult to child ratio of 1:1 or 1:2
- Use interventions that are engaging
- Have a strategic direction (e.g. social skills, language, etc.)
The P.L.A.Y. Project Home Consulting Program provides training and support for families of children (18 months to 6 years) with autism right in their home. Trained consultants teach parents techniques that are effective, fun, and useful in day-to-day interactions with their child with autism. By providing training in the home, consultants see the family in an environment where the child feels comfortable, rather than in a setting unfamiliar and possibly intimidating to the child.
For more information including a research overview please visit www.playproject.org.
