Affect Autism

Joining us this episode is developmental, behavioural pediatrician Dr. Rick Solomon who is the medical director and founder of the P.L.A.Y. Project, which is derived from the Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model. He discusses what the P.L.A.Y. Project is, how it came about, the research behind it, and how it is a solution for the huge wait lists for autism therapies.Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: https://affectautism.com/2019/06/24/play-project/Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

Joining us this episode is Jehan Shehata-Aboubakr, a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) at Clinical Communication Consultants in Thornhill, Ontario (just north of Toronto) where she practices with a functional pragmatic and DIRFloortime® approach. She is a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader with the International Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) and faculty with Profectum. We have been working together on advocacy, trying to get developmental approaches funded here in Ontario and it’s a pleasure to finally feature Jehan on the podcast!Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: http://affectautism.com/2019/05/27/scriptingCaregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

Licensed Mental Health Counselor and DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader Gene Christian joins us from Spokane, Washington this episode to share how adults with extreme developmental differences can benefit from Floortime. His description of how to bring out the early social-emotional capacities through playful interactions really informs our practice as parents and professionals. He really provides the rationale to support nonverbal adults who are dysregulated, seemingly stuck in their own worlds, to intent where they can have meaningful communications with the caregivers in their lives.Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: https://affectautism.com/2019/02/25/intent/Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

Behavioural challenges can pop up from time to time in our children and this is to be expected. But sometimes, even when we read behaviour as communication, are aware of our child’s unique sensory processing profile, are attuned to our child, follow their lead, and have a great relationship, our children can still surprise us with inappropriate behaviour that can be harmful to themselves or others. What is going on? What do we do?Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: https://affectautism.com/2018/11/05/floortime-tips-home/Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

Behavioural challenges can pop up from time to time in our children and this is to be expected. But sometimes, even when we read behaviour as communication, are aware of our child’s unique sensory processing profile, are attuned to our child, follow their lead, and have a great relationship, our children can still surprise us with inappropriate behaviour that can be harmful to themselves or others. What is going on? What do we do?Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: https://affectautism.com/2018/10/22/floortime-tips/Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

Maude Le Roux returns this episode to discuss theory of mind: what it is, why it’s important, and how to foster its development in our children with developmental differences. Maude is an occupational therapist who runs a DIR® clinic called A Total Approach in Glen Mills, PA and she is also a DIRFloortime® Expert Training Leader who presents around the world on DIRFloortime® and other topics that she has advanced credentials in.Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: https://affectautism.com/2018/09/24/theory-of-mind/Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents

This episode, Dr. Stuart Shanker speaks with us about how Self-Reg® came about. Self-regulation is the first functional emotional developmental capacity (FEDC) in the DIR® model, and Dr. Shanker was the lead researcher on the DIRFloortime® brain research study. Dr. Shanker is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the MEHRIT Centre. He is a Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and Psychology at York University. He is also the Founder and Science Director of the Self Regulation Institute at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario.Link to the full blog post with links to key discussion points and other ways to view or hear the podcast here: https://affectautism.com/2018/08/27/self-reg-and-dir/Caregivers: Consider joining our DIR® Parent Network for support from a like-minded community of Floortimers here: https://www.icdl.com/parents