SDCA Journal of Education

Abstract

Children within the autism spectrum exhibit difficulties with social interaction and communication skills that hinder them from having effective and meaningful relationship with others. There is consensus amongst authors that early intervention with these children is beneficial and programs done at home may be more advantageous than clinical therapies as they support both the child and the caregiver, strengthen the adultchild bond and reduce parental levels of stress, not to mention a cost-efficient way to help the child with special needs. Floortime play (FTP) therapy is an intervention approach that addresses these issues. This study determines the effectiveness of FTP intervention to a child diagnosed with autism. A single subject AB design was used with circles of communication (CoC) as the behavior indicator for improvement. This study provides preliminary evidence for the use of the FTP approach as an early intervention for a child with poor expressive language skills and limited social interaction.

Keywords: Floortime Play Therapy approach, language skills, social interaction, early intervention, Autism Spectrum Disorder.