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 The Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters (P.L.A.Y.) Project
Vea esta página en español
  The P.L.A.Y. Project
is partially funded by
First 5 Fresno County
and First 5 Monterey County.
Easter Seals P.L.A.Y. Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) program started in 2006. The mission of the project is to help young children (up to age 6) with autism spectrum disorders and their families obtain interventions that consist of 2-3 hours of intensive, individualized therapy per day, and are integrated with other therapies saving the parents time and money.
 The P.L.A.Y. Project is unique in that it provides training for the parents of children with autism so they can implement therapy at home. Easter Seals has home consultants, including specially trained occupational therapists and speech pathologists, to implement the P.L.A.Y. Project, enabling them to teach parents how to initiate therapy in the home setting. A child with autism needs 20-30 hours per week of therapy to learn and grow as quickly as possible. This project is highly cost effective for families and enables the child to receive a continuum of service throughout their day.
The P.L.A.Y. Project was founded by Dr. Rick Solomon, who has diagnosed and treated children with autism for over 15 years. Dr. Solomon’s initial study of 70 children with autism demonstrated that 65% of the children in the P.L.A.Y. Project made good to excellent progress. Solomon’s study has been given tremendous credibility with its recent acceptance for publication in the Journal of Autism and receipt of a National Institute of Health grant.
Goals of the P.L.A.Y. Project include:
- Improving parent/child relationships.
- Improving behavior of the child reducing stress within the home.
- Including siblings in coaching and training.
- Creating strong families including improved spousal relationships
- Improving child development so children are ready for school.
- Improving systems for families so services are integrated, accessible, culturally-appropriate and of high quality.
Easter Seals recently conducted a parent survey in our P.L.A.Y. Project. We are proud to share with you what our families are saying about this program:
- 100% of the parents participating in the P.L.A.Y. Project would recommend the program to other families.
- 94% rated the program as Excellent - giving it a score of 5 points out of 5.
- Families noted that they would like to have the opportunity to learn about implementing the P.L.A.Y. Project in a group setting.
- Others noted that they would like to have interaction with other families involved in the P.L.A.Y. Project.
Here are some other comments from our P.L.A.Y. Project families:
“We’ll always be forever grateful for Easter Seals and for what they’ve done for our family!” said Angela Tucci.
Denise Duzan says, “Before Easter Seals, I had a son that would push me away. He wouldn’t let me hold him at all unless I held him facing out away from me. Now he reaches for me! He lets me hold him and I feel like my little boy loves me.”
Since being a part of Easter Seals P.L.A.Y. Project, Noel Von Dallwitz has noted several changes in her son, Levi. “He’s doing great! He’s really blossoming.” she said, “He didn’t say anything before and now he’s interacting with us, making eye contact and is working on his speech.”
Deanna Olson says, “I am so grateful that my son and my family are a part of the P.L.A.Y. Project.”
 Testimonials from P.L.A.Y. Project Parents
Gina Herren-Pope
"When I first heard about the P.L.A.Y. Project, I wondered how skilled or trained the employees of the program could be with no cost to the parents. The ideal in this country is "you get what you pay for." Well, I can honestly say I have learned more from my P.L.A.Y. Project Consultant than my weekly appointments with a highly certified, very expensive, child development specialist. Thank you for helping me connect with my child. To see the gleam in his eyes as we implement the strategies seen during our sessions not only brings pure joy to my heart, but peace in my life.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
Callia Benson
"When you are told that your child has autism, you look for a cure. At first, it's denial and then the painful guilt that somehow you as a mother or father are to blame. Then something happens, a moment when you accept that "normal" isn't always perfect. Children with autism are gifted in many ways, they see and hear the world differently and they develop in their own time.
Remarkably as parents, we are given opportunities to help our children excel in this world. I firmly believe that the P.L.A.Y. Project has helped our family become closer and to understand the necessity of playing, laughter, and the joy of being a child.
As a parent I still hope for a cure, but in the meantime we dance, play, and live as a "normal" family."
Carrie Koda
"After our first visit I was excited to have finally been validated. It was as if I had been given the vocabulary to express what I had been observing in my child. This program has given me the chance to actively partake in my child's life and has provided a link to him. As I become increasingly more knowledgeable in the developmental levels, I see how my child is growing and acquiring new ground. I feel so empowered with my new knowledge. No matter my child's outcome, I know, now, where I can meet him and provide opportunities for him to reach."
More quotes about The P.L.A.Y. Project
One preschool teacher said, “It is a miracle. I can’t believe the improvement in Vincente.”
A father stated, “I never had a relationship with my son. My wife did everything. I now have my son back.”
A mother stated, “After my son started in the P.L.A.Y. Project, it was like he woke up from a fog. Now he says things like, ‘Come on Mom. Let’s go play. I want juice.’”
One of our therapists says, “We know the best way to help the child is to change the parent’s behaviors. What the parents are learning requires a huge commitment from them. Parents learn techniques that are fun, and useful in day-to-day interactions with their child.”
Click here to read Dr. Rick Solomon's, founder of the P.L.A.Y. Project, article
published in the May, 2007 Journal of Autism. (Link will open in new window.)
MP3 format
Right-click or Option-Click link to download file.
Click Here to Read About Vincente and Patch P.L.A.Y. Project Participants
The P.L.A.Y. Project is partially funded by First 5 Monterey County, First 5 Fresno County and the Fansler Foundation.
If you or someone you know would like information regarding the P.L.A.Y. Project,
please contact Drea Martinez at 559-267-3952 in Fresno and Mark Wenzler at 831-684-2166 in Monterey.
For more information about the P.L.A.Y. Project, you can also visit www.playproject.org.
If you would like to help support Easter Seals P.L.A.Y. Project,
please click on the button below to make a donation.
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