Loving Acceptance

All behavior is communication is a guiding principle of The Speech Playroom. While learning the techniques of the Son-Rise program, at the Autism Treatment Center of America, Bethe realized these tools could apply to all children, not only children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. If a child is exclusive, we join in his/her behavior without intruding, until the child is ready to engage – looking for those “green lights”.  Even tantrums are accepted as a form of communication and allowed. By learning that tantrumming is not the most effective communication tool, the child and parents learn more effective ways to deal with frustration.

From HANDLE, we observe the whole child, to see if there are body state changes in response to our interventions, such as changes in breathing or reddening of ears. The HANDLE principle of Gentle Enhancement dictates that a stressed system doesn’t learn, but shuts down.