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ICDL's CEO, Dr. Guenzel, speaks at the ANISA World Autism Acceptance Day event.
The Developmental Individual-differences and Relationship-based Model
"Let's help our children become the poets of their inner lives." - Stanley Greenspan, MD
"Let's help our children become the poets of their inner lives." - Stanley Greenspan, MD
What is DIR®?
What is DIR®?
DIR® is the Developmental, Individual-differences, and Relationship-based model (pronounced saying each letter as an initialism: D.I.R.). DIR provides a foundational framework for understanding human development and learning and how each person individually perceives and interacts with the world differently. It outlines the critical role social-emotional development has on overall human development starting at birth and continuing throughout the lifespan. The model highlights the power of relationships and emotional connections to fuel development. Through a deep understanding of the "D" ( the developmental process) and the "I" (a person's individual differences) we can use the "R" (human relationships) to promote healthy development and to help everyone reach their fullest potential.
DIR® is rooted in the science of human development and can sound technical at times, but it is also simple. It is a pathway to promote healthy development in a respectful manner that builds connections, understanding, love, communication, and engagement.
Click here for a one-page "What is DIR?" document.
DIRFloortime® (Floortime) is the application of the DIR® model into practice.
DIRFloortime® (Floortime) is the application of the DIR® model into practice.
While the DIR® model helps us understand and promote the positive development of all children, DIR and DIRFloortime are most commonly utilized with children with educational, social-emotional, mental health, and/or developmental challenges. DIRFloortime has become most widely known as an approach to support children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). You can read more about DIR and ASD in many books including "Engaging Autism" and "The Child with Special Needs" by Drs. Greenspan and Wieder.
The objectives of the DIR® Model are to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities rather than focusing exclusively on skills and isolated behaviors.
The objectives of the DIR® Model are to build healthy foundations for social, emotional, and intellectual capacities rather than focusing exclusively on skills and isolated behaviors.
The “D” describes development from the perspective of the individual, where they are and where they are headed. Understanding the unique developmental process means allowing space for each person to be respected and guided in their own personal developmental journey.
The "I" describes the unique ways each person takes in, regulates, responds to, and comprehends the world around them.
The “R” describes how relationships fuel our development. Humans are social beings and relationships are a key to our development. DIR harnesses the key affective (emotional) aspect of these relationships to promote development.
Understanding DIR can help us promote healthy development in everyone, but it is especially powerful in helping children on the autism spectrum or with other developmental or emotional challenges.
DIR is a comprehensive framework for understanding human development and DIRFloortime (aka Floortime) is the application of the DIR framework into practice. Some think of DIR as the philosophy and DIRFloortime as the way to put this philosophy into action. DIR gives us the understanding of how development happens and DIRFloortime gives us ways to promote that development.
The above video is an extended version of the video on the home page. It includes case examples
A DIR Perspective...
A DIR Perspective...
The essence of motivation is finding out what the natural interest of the child is, what they like they do. Don’t have any preconceived notions. Don’t think in terms of “rewards.” The stimulus/reward approach is a very limited approach, which was based on research done with animal, not human, models and doesn’t encompass empathy and development of thought, etc. The approach does work, to some degree, but it tends to keep the child in a rote, repetitive mode. When a child is “stimming,” think of it as an opportunity to identify motivation to deepen their engagement. Motivation is basically a good observer seeing what the child likes and building on this natural interest to help the child learn what he needs to learn. Thus, motivation is finding out what the child naturally enjoys doing and then building on that interest and motivation. - Dr. Stanley Greenspan, August 2007.
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