DIR 101: An introduction to DIR® and DIRFloortime®
Ziauddin college of speech language and hearing sciences in collaboration with ICDL, a US accreditation institute. Ms. Mahnaz, a DIR Expert trainer, MSCCCSLP, working in USA gave the introductory training to the participants. It covered Developmental, Individual difference, Relationship-based (DIR) model, which is an established and recognized framework to understand a child’s development that was developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan. DIR explains a child’s developmental stages, individual differences, and the role emotion and relationships have in a child’s development. Ms. Mahnaz emphasized that the DIR model is applicable for all children and can be more effective approach for intervention for children with Autism and other developmental disabilities.
Following objectives were covered in detail.
- Identify common features of autism and other challenges of relating and communicating
- Identify the key features of relationship-based approaches
- Describe the 6 Functional Emotional Developmental Capacities (FEDCs) in the DIR model and potential challenges that children face at each capacity
- Understand and describe the “I” in DIR – individual differences and how health, sensory processing, and regulatory challenges can impact a child’s development
- Describe key principles and basic strategies of Floortime
- Understand and articulate the role of relationship and family in the DIR model
- Understand and articulate the essential role of affect as it is related to the D, the I, and the R.
Participants will have to further attend 4 more courses to become DIR expert and after the first introductory session participants are enthusiastic to further continue the course done the lane and become expert.
