In the movie Groundhog Day, the main character, Bill Murray, relives the same day over and over and over and over, until he finally ‘gets love right’. 

We have been living in our own version of Groundhog Day, where young children with autism and their families have been waiting and waiting over and over for diagnostic services, intensive intervention services, and insurance coverage for evidence-based models other than just ABA. With the advent of 2024, there are signs that our country may be getting it right. For instance, California just passed Senate bill 805 that will now compel insurance companies to pay for therapies other than ABA, including interventions like The P.L.A.Y. Project and developmental, relationship-based, and playful models. 

I have been presenting a talk called ‘5 Public Policy Arguments for Parent Implemented Models (PIM)’ to large audiences of pediatric and child development professionals around the US. Most recently at the National DEC (Division for Early Childhood) Conference hosted in Minnesota, and the California Interagency Coordinating Council which oversees all early intervention programs, as well as other policy making organizations nationally. At the risk of repeating myself, I argue that 1.) There are 10s of 1000s of young children with ASD (or at risk for ASD) waiting for services 2.) PIM are evidence-based and intensive 3.) They address the core social challenges of autism 4.) They are more efficient and cost effective than therapist delivered services (though we need therapist delivered services, of course) and 5.) They can be implemented on a large scale to meet the desperate need. In fact, insurers are paying for PIM in New Jersey, Illinois, Minnesota, and soon California.  With the recent research focused on earlier diagnosis through eye tracking technology and better biological screening tools, parent-implemented models are even more important—when applied early, PIMs can literally change the life course of children on the spectrum.

 Here’s hoping that, in 2024, we will end autism’s Groundhog Day, empower parents, and get children off wait lists. So, when Punxsutawney Phil peeks his head up out of his burrow on February 2nd, I think he will predict that, this year, young children with autism will be substantially better off!

As you will see below, The P.L.A.Y. Project Organization has been working hard over and over to further the cause to ‘get love right’ for our autistic children. PLAY on!

 ~ Dr. Rick

 

We train professionals to coach parents to help their young children with autism reach their full potential through play and we help parents learn the basics of PLAY through our workshops.

PLAY continues to train professionals and parents from across the globe — participants from the U.S, Australia, Canada, Finland, and Turkey participated in our PLAY Workshops this fall and winter.

PLAY on the Conference Stage

Dr. Rick was featured as a keynote speaker at The Division for Early Childhood’s (DEC) 39th  Annual Conference, presenting to over 1400 professionals on the importance of Parent Implemented Models (PIM) as Public Policy.  

The PLAY Project Workshop, Keys to the Case, co-presented by PLAY Project Consultant Stephanie Moore and Dr. Rick  was attended by a packed out audience with standing room only! The team was given a second opportunity to present the workshop again. Kudos PLAY Project team!