Empowering Children and Families Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders through Dance/Movement Therapy

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pepi Diaz-Salazar ◽  
Theresa Haney
2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara M. Scharoun ◽  
Nicole J. Reinders ◽  
Pamela J. Bryden ◽  
Paula C. Fletcher

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 41
Author(s):  
Ana Paula Antunes Alves

<p>W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań przeprowadzonych wśród dzieci z zaburzeniami ze spektrum autyzmu (ASD) w wieku 4–7 lat, w których zastosowano metody terapii tańcem/ruchem w celu promowania kreatywnego ruchu i komunikacji niewerbalnej. Badanie oparto na pracach różnych autorów, w tym odwołujących się do dynamiki rozwoju w dzieciństwie i terapii tańcem/ruchem w artykulacji metodami pedagogicznymi wprowadzonymi u uczniów z ASD. Obserwując i rejestrując sesje, można było zidentyfikować jakościową ewolucję niewerbalnej komunikacji i kreatywnego ruchu u uczestników. Na podstawie przeprowadzonych badań stwierdzono, że należy przeprowadzić dalsze badania z wykorzystaniem terapii tańcem/ruchem w celu zidentyfikowania i potwierdzenia ekspansji i spójności ewolucji ruchu twórczego.</p>


Author(s):  
Bridgette L. Tonnsen ◽  
Andrea D. Boan ◽  
Catherine C. Bradley ◽  
Jane Charles ◽  
Amy Cohen ◽  
...  

Abstract Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often co-occur with intellectual disability (ID) and are associated with poorer psychosocial and family-related outcomes than ID alone. The present study examined the prevalence, stability, and characteristics of ASD estimates in 2,208 children with ASD and ID identified through the South Carolina Autism and Developmental Disabilities Network. The prevalence of ASD in ID was 18.04%, relative to ASD rates of 0.60%–1.11% reported in the general South Carolina population. Compared to children with ASD alone, those with comorbid ID exhibited increased symptom severity and distinct DSM-IV-TR profiles. Further work is needed to determine whether current screening, diagnostic, and treatment practices adequately address the unique needs of children and families affected by comorbid ASD and ID diagnoses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Einat Shuper Engelhard ◽  
Maya Vulcan

A review of current literature indicates that adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) feel the need for intimate and sexual relationships and maintain such relationships despite and alongside their difficulties in emotional communication, social interactions, reciprocity, and verbal and non-verbal expression. This understanding calls for the development of intervention programs designed to support the specific needs and address the problems of couples where one partner is diagnosed with ASD. In view of the relevance and significant part played by body and movement in emotional development and psychotherapy, the present article offers a review of studies examining the contribution of dance movement therapy to both the quality of life and functioning of adults with ASD and therapeutic processes in couple therapy. This review aims to establish an infrastructure for the construction of intervention programs and for future studies designed to enhance the quality of life and independence of adults with ASD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Manders ◽  
Sharon Goodill ◽  
Sabine C. Koch ◽  
Ellen Giarelli ◽  
Marcia Polansky ◽  
...  

Background: Individuals on the autism spectrum are often described as having atypical social interactions. Ideally, interactional synchrony helps any interaction flow smoothly with each individual responding verbally, non-verbally, and/or emotionally within a short timeframe. Differences in interactional synchrony may impact how individuals on the autism spectrum experience social encounters.Method: This mixed methods pilot study examined interactional synchrony in five cases of adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum through secondary analysis of video of the participants in movement-based mirroring tasks during dance/movement therapy. Raters described the movement and interactions of the participants while they were leading and following mirroring and engaged in open-ended free dances with a partner. Videos were also scored on measures of affective engagement, flow of the interaction, and synchrony.Results: One of the most striking findings of this study was the difference between engagement in the instructions of the task and engagement with the partner: participants often followed the instructions for the mirroring tasks with little further social engagement with their partner. When participants did engage in moments of social initiation, attunement to the partner, and interactive behaviors, these did not develop into longer interactions. A paired t-test of the correlation coefficients for each participant showed that scores on synchrony and affective engagement were more strongly positively correlated in the less structured open-ended dance and in video clips of interactive behaviors, than in the videos of simply leading or following mirroring. Synchrony was also significantly more strongly positively correlated with the observed flow of the interaction than with observed affective engagement. With the small sample size, however, most of the correlation coefficients were not significant and should be tested on a larger sample.Discussion: Interpersonal synchrony may not be sufficient to effectively support social engagement when individuals on the autism spectrum simply follow instructions to synchronize their movements. Synchrony-based interventions may therefore need to include more complex open-ended social scenarios as interactional synchrony may then be more correlated with perceived interaction quality. Therapists may also need to partner with participants to model using non-verbal social behaviors to develop interactions within mirroring tasks.


2016 ◽  
pp. 2294-2305
Author(s):  
Jane Teo ◽  
Ong Puay Hoon

This chapter attempts to introduce the concept of Dance and Movement Therapy (DMT) in treating autistic-like symptoms and discusses the validity and feasibility of adopting DMT as a complementary component of an existing intervention framework. By defining mainstream DMT, identifying its implications for children across the spectrum, and briefly touching upon the theoretical aspects of its workings, it is hoped that parents, teachers, and educators can gain a more thorough understanding of this method. An outline of how it can be adapted for children with a range of abilities is also supplied. Finally, initial observations of DMT applied in Kuching, Malaysia, are shared with concluding suggestions for success within this particular cultural and social context. This chapter is aimed at the new practitioner looking for a starting point resource as well as parents, teachers, and educators who may be thinking about implementing DMT into a child's routine or programme.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document