Goals and Methods of Correctional Aid to a Child with Autism

The paper presents a comparative analysis of two close directions in psychological intervention for children with autism — the DIR/Floortime model and the Emotional-Semantic approach both aimed to return a child to a healthy mental and social developmental pathway. We follow through the similarities and divergences in the theoretical views of two approaches and in their realization in practice. It is shown that despite the common main direction of intervention, such as helping the child in his/her affective development that occurs in the course of changing emotional relationships with his/her caregivers, there are significant differences in the tasks, methods and intervention techniques. Similarities and differences in establishing and developing emotional contact with the child are analyzed, as well as the ways of engaging him/her in communication and interaction, overcoming rigidity and developing spontaneous and flexible behavior, building affective experience, stimulating and developing verbal communication.

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