1. Play Facilitation for Children with ASD

2. Participants will identify ways that autism impacts play.1
Given a child’s behavior/actions in play, participants will identify characteristics of autism that may contribute to the behavior. 2
Given play scenarios, participants will identify underlying characteristics of autism and match strategies to promote engagement in children with ASD 3
Objectives

3. ASD and Play
Play is an activity that is pleasurable, intrinsically motivated, flexible, non-literal, voluntary, and involves active engagement. In contrast, children with autism spectrum disorders often engage in inflexible, repetitive play patterns and may not exhibit symbolic or pretend behavior. -Wolfberg 1995

4. Challenges of TPBA

5. The What (to do)…. Depends on the Why
Individual Profile
TPBA
Play Facilitation
Learning Styles/
Characteristics of
Autism
Every child’s profile is different
Consider what characteristics of autism might be a factor
Select strategies based on
Evidence Based
Practices for ASD

6. Characteristics of Autism that Impact Play
Concrete/literal
Deficits in implicit learning
Communication deficits
Difficulty understanding the perspectives/feelings of others
Restricted and/or unusual interests
Difficulty with generalization
Deficits in executive functions
“Sticky attention”
Differences in sensory processing
Characteristics of Autism that Impact Play
Organization
Sequencing
Motor planning

7. The Possible Why Behind Our Challenges

8. Selecting Facilitation Strategies
Child’s Actions in Play
Why based on ASD
Play
Facilitation Strategies/
Supports

9. Possible Strategies

10. Let’s Try a Quick Example

11. Selecting Facilitation Strategies
Child’s Actions in Play
Why based on ASD
Play
Facilitation Strategies/
Supports

12. https://youtu.be/hxY8UHwER2A

13. Selecting Facilitation Strategies
Child’s Actions in Play
Why based on ASD
Play
Facilitation Strategies/
Supports

14. And some directly from TPBA’s!

15. Video of Micah and pound-a-ball

16. Selecting Facilitation Strategies
Child’s Actions in Play
Why based on ASD
Play
Facilitation Strategies/
Supports

17. Video of Trent and washing hands

18. Selecting Facilitation Strategies
Child’s Actions in Play
Why based on ASD
Play
Facilitation Strategies/
Supports

19. Video of Trent and train track

20. Selecting Facilitation Strategies
Child’s Actions in Play
Why based on ASD
Play
Facilitation Strategies/
Supports

21. Video of Trent and leaving assessment room

22. Selecting Facilitation Strategies
Child’s Actions in Play
Why based on ASD
Play
Facilitation Strategies/
Supports

23. Video of Micah and train

24. Ah-Ha’s and Thoughts

25. Questions and Answers