A Sensorimotor Playgroup for Children with Autism Paige Avchen,
OTS, Alicia Gurecki, OTS, Kelsey Lavelle, OTS, Kimberly Mitar, OTS
& Meagan Triplett, OTS Faculty Mentor: Sarah Fabrizi, PhD OTR/L
Methods & Materials Intervention Parent Questionnaire Sensory
Profile 30 minute Social Profile 15 minute ToP PRE- TEST Sensory
Profile 30 minute Social Profile 15 minute ToP POST- TEST Sensory
Profile 30 minute Social Profile 15 minute ToP FOLLOW-UP 6 weekly
60 minute intervention sessions SENSORIMOTOR PLAYGROUP NO
INTERVENTION 4 weeks without playgroup All children have the right
to play 5. Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) benefit
from being instructed how to play via modeling of the parent; this
will contribute to learning and social inclusion 2. Sensory
integration is essential to the child's ability to engage in play
and maintain active engagement 3,4. Children who engage in
playgroups on a regular basis experience improvements in: sense of
well being, enhanced cognition and behavior, improved
self-confidence, opportunity for social participation, and a sense
of belonging and acceptance from their peers 1. VariableMeasured
byDescription PlayfulnessTest of Playfulness (ToP) 15 minute video
of child during free play; observational assessment Social
Participation Social Profile30 minute video of group during free
play; observational assessment Sensory Processing Infant/Toddler
Sensory Profile Caregiver questionnaire about childs sensory
processing Participants Four male participants, 18 to 37 months,
were recruited through Early Steps of Southwest Florida Inclusion
Criteria: 15 months to 3 years of age Autism Diagnostic Observation
Schedule (ADOS) classification of autism English speaking caregiver
present at each session Informed consent was obtained from each
caregiver and child References OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this
research study is to determine if a sensorimotor playgroup will
affect playfulness, sensory processing, and social participation of
four children aged 15- 36 months with ASD. METHOD: A
quasi-experimental, pre-test/post-test repeated measures design was
implemented to examine three research questions:. Does the
playgroup increase playfulness in the children (Test of
Playfulness)? Does the playgroup influence sensory processing as
reported by caregivers on the Sensory Profile? Does the playgroup
increase social participation in the children (Social Profile)
RESULTS: There was no significant effect (p> 0.05) on
playfulness (F [1,1]=.638, p=.571), social participation (F [2,2]=
6.48, p=.134), or sensory processing ( [2]=.933, p=.627) from the
sensorimotor playgroup. CONCLUSION: Due to limitations in sample
size and missing data, results from this study have limited
generalizability to inform on the use of playgroups in occupational
therapy intervention of young children with Autism. Intervention
Session 10:00 10:10 Circle Time 10:10 10:15 Unstructured Motor Play
10:15 10:45 Structured Play 10:45 10:55 Sensory Play 10:55 11:00
Circle Time Layout of Room Session 1: Jumping Skills Hello Song
Listen & Move Unstructured Motor Play 7 Stations focused on
jumping over, on, in, and down Cars & Trucks Musical
Instruments Parachute Goodbye Song Session 2: Prone Movements Hello
Song Listen & Move Unstructured Motor Play 7 Stations focused
on skills in prone position Cars & Trucks Musical Instruments
Parachute Goodbye Song Session 3: Kicking and Throwing Hello Song
Listen & Move Unstructured Motor Play 7 Stations focused on
kicking and throwing (Sports theme) Cars & Trucks Musical
Instruments Parachute Goodbye Song Session 4: Climbing Hello Song
Listen &Move Unstructured Motor Play 7 Stations focused on
climbing up, down, on, over, and under obstacles Cars & Trucks
Musical Instruments Parachute Goodbye Song Session 5: Sensory and
Balance Hello Song Listen & Move Unstructured Motor Play 7
Stations focused on balance and sensory activities Cars &
Trucks Musical Instruments Parachute Goodbye Song Session 6:
Combination Hello Song Listen & Move Unstructured Motor Play
Stations consisting of a combination of skills from previous
sessions Cars & Trucks Musical Instruments Parachute Goodbye
Song Introduction Abstract Results 1 Dadich, A., & Spooner, C.
(2008). Evaluating playgroups: An examination of issues and
options. The Australian Community Psychologist, 20(1), 95-104. 2
Lifter, K., Mason, E., J., & Barton, E., E. (2011). Childrens
play: Where we have been and where we could go. Journal of Early
Intervention, 33(4), 281-297. doi:10.1177/1053815111429465. 3
Wieder, S. (1996). Integrated treatment approaches for young
children with multisystem developmental disorder. Infants and Young
Children, 8(3), 2434. 4 Williamson, G., & Anzalone, M. (1997).
Sensory integration: A key component of the evaluation and
treatment of young children with severe difficulties in relating
and communicating. Zero to Three, 17(5), 2936. 5 United Nations
High Commission for Human Rights. (1993). Fact Sheet No. 10 (Rev.
1), The rights of the child. Retrieved from
http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet10rev.1en.pdf.
