Resources For Parents
Our Resource Hub!
At Little Hands Big Dreams Pediatric Therapy, we are dedicated to providing families with the tools and knowledge to support their children’s growth and development. Below, you’ll find a curated list of resources to help navigate various aspects of pediatric therapy.
The Collaborative for Leadership in Ayres Sensory Integration® (CLASI) offers resources to help parents understand sensory integration and its impact on their children's development.Follow the link below to read articles related to sensory processing and integration.
Affect Autism is a resource-rich website dedicated to supporting parents and caregivers of neurodivergent children, particularly those with autism. It emphasizes the Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) approach, commonly known as Floortime, to foster children's development through playful and respectful interactions.
The Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) provides comprehensive resources for parents to understand Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through a developmental and relationship-based lens.
​Understanding Autism: ICDL
ICDL emphasizes that children with ASD can form deep, loving relationships and develop communication skills. Each child's path to improvement is unique, requiring personalized approaches that focus on their individual strengths and challenges.
DIR®/Floortime Approach:
Central to ICDL's philosophy is the Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based (DIR®) model, commonly known as Floortime. This approach encourages parents to engage with their children through play, following the child's lead to promote emotional and intellectual growth. By focusing on relationships and tailored interventions, Floortime aims to improve social interaction, communication, and emotional understanding.
Addressing Myths: ICDL
ICDL actively dispels common myths about autism, reinforcing that individuals with ASD are capable of forming meaningful relationships and experiencing deep emotions.
POdcast DR. JEFFREY GUENZEL ON THE DIVERG. PODCAST
ABA or FloorTime
Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) contrasts two primary approaches to autism intervention: Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and the Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based (DIR) model. ICDL
DIR Model:
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Focus: Emphasizes understanding each child's unique developmental profile to promote their fullest potential.
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Approach: Centers on fostering intrinsic motivation for attention, communication, and learning through respectful and joyful strategies.
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Perspective on Behavior: Views behaviors as manifestations of internal processes, aiming to address core developmental capacities like relating, communicating, and thinking.
ABA Approach:
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Focus: Aims to change observable behaviors through structured techniques.
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Approach: Utilizes methods like discrete trial training, breaking down skills into measurable tasks, and employing repetition, feedback, and rewards to teach these tasks.
DIR focuses on understanding each child’s unique developmental needs, promoting intrinsic motivation and emotional development through respectful, joyful strategies. In contrast, ABA seeks to modify behaviors to make children "indistinguishable" from peers, often using external rewards and punishments. DIR values neurodiversity and relationships, aiming for a deeper, more holistic development rather than just behavioral conformity. Full article can be found here.
The research brief titled "Evidence for Occupational Therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration®" (ASI) summarizes current findings on the effectiveness of ASI interventions, particularly for autistic children aged 5-9. Evidence for Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration
Key Points:
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Effectiveness: Multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that ASI leads to measurable improvements in individualized goals for autistic children. These studies adhered to the ASI Fidelity Measure, ensuring consistency and reliability in the intervention's application.
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Recognition: ASI is recognized as an evidence-based intervention by reputable organizations, including the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice and the Council for Exceptional Children’s Standards for Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education.
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Emerging Evidence: Preliminary studies suggest that ASI may also be effective for non-autistic children with sensory integration challenges, though further research is needed to confirm these findings.
The brief highlights substantial evidence supporting the use of ASI in occupational therapy, particularly for improving individualized outcomes in autistic children.
The research brief titled "Research Supporting the Use of the Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration®" (EASI), prepared by Drs. Roseann Schaaf and Kelly Auld-Wright, summarizes the psychometric properties of the EASI, a set of standardized tests designed to assess sensory integration functions in children aged 3 to 12 years. Use of Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration
Key Points:
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Purpose: The EASI evaluates constructs associated with Ayres Sensory Integration® Theory, including sensory perception, postural/ocular/bilateral motor integration, praxis, and sensory reactivity. It is designed to minimize cultural and language biases, ensuring accessibility and usability worldwide.
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Feasibility Testing: Initial studies demonstrated significant differences between typically developing children and those with sensory integrative concerns on the majority of tests, leading to refinements in test materials and procedures.
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Validity Testing: The EASI tests have shown adequate construct validity, effectively distinguishing between typical children and those with identified sensory integration issues.
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Reliability: Studies reported moderate to strong internal reliability across various test components, indicating consistent performance.
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Normative Data: Data collected from over 8,000 children across more than 80 countries are currently under analysis to finalize norms and scoring processes.
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Cultural Adaptations: The EASI has undergone cultural adaptations, such as translations into Spanish and Swedish, to ensure its applicability across diverse populations.
The EASI is a rigorously developed assessment tool with strong validity and reliability, offering a comprehensive evaluation of sensory integration in children globally.