Executive Summary
Overlooking Autism Spectrum Disorder can lead to irreparable consequences for the patient. Autism Spectrum Condition has its characteristics in the course of the disorder. Autism spectrum disorders include a range of symptoms that result in moderate or severe disability. These symptoms include difficulties with social communication, mutual interaction, and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Delays often follow the abovementioned signs in speech, communication skills, and intellectual and motor development. Early intervention can have significant positive consequences in children under seven years and the leveling of its symptoms.
The P.L.A.Y. (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) Project aims to provide early intervention for children through play and third-party involvement. Finding an individualized program of treatment or alleviation of the symptoms of the autism spectrum disorder for each patient is vital, as it articulates a unique approach. The P.L.A.Y. (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) Project includes an intensive program of treatment and intervention for children with autism up to seven years of age, performed by parents (The Play Project, 2023).
This program is built on evidence-based practices, applying data confirmed by real clinical cases. The P.L.A.Y. program is effective since it formulates parent-child interaction, an essential aspect of interventions for children with autism (The Play Project, 2023). In addition, it employs the most effective methods of treating and alleviating symptoms using a play element, which articulates a particular effectiveness for young children.
Project Design
Rationale and Goals
The project option and group members include interactions between parents and children, and peers can also be involved. The project’s rationale lies in its primary goals, namely the partial or complete leveling of the consequences and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (The Play Project, 2023). One needs to teach parents unique methods and practices to involve the child in a suitable game for development.
Target Participants and Settings
Target participants include parents and their children under the age of seven diagnosed with autism. The roles are that the teacher or manager will teach the parents/parent the correct techniques for involving the child in play and the correct play procedures. At the end of the course, parents will have full knowledge of appropriate games, practices, and ways to involve a child in play. The settings include remote interaction through audio or video communication, news sharing, and progress control.
There is a common misconception that children with autism do not respond to other peers and cannot/do not want to communicate with them. Often, one can notice that in various educational or medical institutions, children with autism are separated from others. However, this is not correct since children who have autism can and want to communicate with others and have social connections. Moreover, it is necessary for them.
However, given the disorder’s characteristics, these connections and communication occur in a different, unique way. Thus, for every child with autism, it is crucial to choose the proper methods and procedures for socialization, and games are the most appropriate option. They not only develop the basic cognitive abilities of the child but also allow one to build fundamental social bonds between the patient and the environment.
Project Delivery and Evaluation
Methods and Procedures to Execute the Project Plan
Methods and procedures for executing a project include several main steps contributing to practical implementation. In the first stage, it is necessary to carry out information procedures, namely, an explanation to the course participants about essential methods and principles of the project. It is important to inform parents about the goals and levels of participation in this program, which will form the basis for further actions.
Next, there will be a phase of direct involvement in the program, allowing the participants to gain valuable knowledge and experience. The approach integrates mental development and learning sciences to treat symptoms of such disorders in young children, such as correcting speech delay. The method includes daily activities and play therapy in the child’s natural environment, that is, at one’s home. Finally, the debriefing stage will come, where the participation results in the program will be evaluated, and opinions will be heard.
Expected Outcomes and Evaluation
Outcomes concerning meeting the project’s goals primarily include a significant improvement in the child’s condition or leveling of the effects and symptoms of autism. Parents will gain valuable experience in appropriately involving children in the game and learn how to communicate better, interact, and understand the child. The basis of the approach is the integration of learning opportunities into the child’s daily life. It is a flexible approach that can be applied in various places and formats.
An example of a tool for evaluating an outcomes program is, first of all, a survey. This can be done online, for instance, by parents filling out a questionnaire about the successes achieved and the experience of participating in the program. In addition, evaluating procedures may include the ability for course participants to leave their ratings and reviews on the program website.
Reflection
Success Factors and Challenges in Implementation
The program’s success lies, first of all, in an effective method for leveling the problems associated with Autism Spectrum Condition. Namely, it is in the form of a game and the interaction between parents and the child, which formulates the natural environment for the patient. In addition, the program is built on evidence-based practices, eliminating the possibility of using incorrect data or methods that could harm the child. However, there are several challenges that both team members and project participants may face. For the team, the most obvious challenge may be significant stress associated with parents’ experiences and psychological stress. In other words, parents tend to react strongly to everything related to their child, so team members must have composure and be able to calm project participants. In turn, the challenge for parents can be the need for considerable patience to achieve success.
Technical and Resource Challenges
Speaking of problems that participants or team members may face, the need for modern equipment is worth noting. Considering that this program is based on online communication, a poor connection can significantly degrade the experience of using the project. In addition, having enough resources to store, process, and access significant information is necessary. It includes program materials, data about participants, tables, texts, videos, reviews, instructions, manuals, and more data.
Finally, there are ways to improve this practice based on sustainable development. Artificial intelligence technologies can be used to evaluate the program’s results and develop improvement methods. In other words, the feedback from the program participants may be assessed and grouped into categories. This will allow one to conveniently and efficiently understand what needs to be improved within the project framework.
Reference
The Play Project. (2023). Web.