Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder before two-years old, E. received all the services Early Intervention provides. By age three his parents felt there was an expressive, creative “boy inside” that was not being reached, and discovered dance/movement therapy. Longitudinal videotapes, live performance, group dancing and discussion with the dance/movement therapist, E., and his mother chronicle E.’s journey. Using a transdisciplinary approach including the creative arts and DIR®/Floortime, E.’s gifted musicality, inquisitive creative mind, sensitive capacity for symbolic expression, and passion for all the fine arts enable E., a person deeply on the spectrum, to develop his voice and embodied presence.
Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at almost two-years old, E. received the full spectrum of services Early Intervention …show more content…
This was in marked contrast to the finely structured didactic interventions he was receiving.
By responding to E.’s love of all of the arts – music, musicals, dance, and fine art-making through painting, photography and clay – a transdisciplinary DMT approach was created. The DIR®/Floortime method provides an emotional/social developmental structure. Current neuroscience research focusing on the importance of dance/movement and creative explorations for brain growth, plasticity, learning and empathy provides scientific grounding to the theory and practice.
Starting with DMT this journey has flourished through E.’s gifted musicality, inquisitive creative mind, sensitive capacity for symbolic expression, and passion for all the fine arts. As stated by his mother, “ Having an ASD child brings up the deepest aspects of yourself, that you are unaware of. Through DMT you provided a language that continues to enable us to dialogue with our son, and look into the depths of self, creating awareness and true
Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at almost two-years old, E. received the full spectrum of services Early Intervention …show more content…
This was in marked contrast to the finely structured didactic interventions he was receiving.
By responding to E.’s love of all of the arts – music, musicals, dance, and fine art-making through painting, photography and clay – a transdisciplinary DMT approach was created. The DIR®/Floortime method provides an emotional/social developmental structure. Current neuroscience research focusing on the importance of dance/movement and creative explorations for brain growth, plasticity, learning and empathy provides scientific grounding to the theory and practice.
Starting with DMT this journey has flourished through E.’s gifted musicality, inquisitive creative mind, sensitive capacity for symbolic expression, and passion for all the fine arts. As stated by his mother, “ Having an ASD child brings up the deepest aspects of yourself, that you are unaware of. Through DMT you provided a language that continues to enable us to dialogue with our son, and look into the depths of self, creating awareness and true