STAR Frame of Reference
The STAR Frame of Reference was developed at the STAR Institute by Dr. Lucy J Miller and Dr. Sarah Schoen. It combines both components from ASI and to DIR/Floortime to understand the dynamic processes between a child's sensory regulation, their relationships and their regulation. This Frame of Reference takes a team approach with parents, teachers and caregivers for formulating goals and providing intervention. The intervention uses the STAR PROCESS model. PROCESS stands for Play, Relationships, Organize, Communicate, Enjoy, Sensation, Success, Parents are expected to be active players in the intervention with the hope that through this facilitated play, they will be more likley to understand the concepts and promote a sensory informed lifestyle outside of the clinic. Parent Collaboration meetings held with the just the parent and the therapist are integrated into the therapy plan to allow for both parent education and shared problem-solving around the parent's goals.
Sensory Integration Therapy
Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) therapy was developed by Jean Ayres, OTR. ASI intervention typically provides a sensory-rich and safe environment that provides a child with opportunities to use their internal senses (vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile, interoceptive ) to connect with their external sensory systems (vision, auditory) to produce functional outcomes in sensory modulation, posture and or praxis. A focus is put on using and understanding sensory input at it promotes a regulated optimal state for learning. ASI therapy is child-directed, therapist guided so that by incorporating the child's intrinsic motivation and drive, the therapist can make challenging activities pleasurable and successful. The activities become their own reward, and the therapist ensures the client’s success in whatever activities are attempted by altering the activities to meet the client’s abilities, we call this the "just right challenge".
Floortime/DIR
DIR®/Floortime is the developmentally appropriate, relationship-based approach to treatment developed by Stanley Greenspan, MD and Serena Wieder, PhD. It is a comprehensive treatment model that addresses the individual differences of the child.
The DIR®/Floortime model includes the “D” which is the six core capacities of Functional Emotional Development, the “I” which is the individual differences of the child, and the “R” which is relationships that are the vehicle for creating learning interactions.
The core capacities for functional and emotional development are:
The DIR®/Floortime Approach is a treatment approach that focuses on the interactive process with the child. There is an emphasis on the interaction between the child and the parent/caregiver, with the goal being directed toward developing attention and regulation, mutual engagement, purposeful interaction with gestures and problem solving, elaboration of ideas and building bridges between ideas. The DIR®/Floortime approach is appropriate for children who have difficulties in all or some of these areas of development; it is also wonderful as a philosophy of interaction with all children. This approach recognizes that a child’s functional emotional capacities and individual differences influence development through the medium of the child-caregiver relationship. The child brings his individual differences into the interaction patterns in order to negotiate and hopefully master each of the core functional developmental capacities.
The DIR®/Floortime model includes the “D” which is the six core capacities of Functional Emotional Development, the “I” which is the individual differences of the child, and the “R” which is relationships that are the vehicle for creating learning interactions.
The core capacities for functional and emotional development are:
- Attention and Regulation
- Forming Relationships and Mutual Engagement
- Intentional Two-Way Communication with Gestures
- Two way Purposeful Interactions with Complex Gestures and Problem Solving
- Elaborating Ideas, Pretend Play, Creating Symbols
- Building Bridges Between Ideas, Emotional Thinking, Connecting Symbols, Logically and Abstract Thinking
The DIR®/Floortime Approach is a treatment approach that focuses on the interactive process with the child. There is an emphasis on the interaction between the child and the parent/caregiver, with the goal being directed toward developing attention and regulation, mutual engagement, purposeful interaction with gestures and problem solving, elaboration of ideas and building bridges between ideas. The DIR®/Floortime approach is appropriate for children who have difficulties in all or some of these areas of development; it is also wonderful as a philosophy of interaction with all children. This approach recognizes that a child’s functional emotional capacities and individual differences influence development through the medium of the child-caregiver relationship. The child brings his individual differences into the interaction patterns in order to negotiate and hopefully master each of the core functional developmental capacities.
