"The focus of this study is application DIR Model from Greenspan and Wieder for autistic child to develop his functional emotional developmental capacities. When we want to intervention with autistic child, we consider 3 aspects are Developmental (focus on functional developmental level), Individual (sensory proiile and individual differences), and Relationship (means interact between children and parents). The rationale of this study is autism which pervasive developmental disorder so he has dysfunction in two main areas are sensory processing and social engagement. DIR Model can help autistic child to overcome sensory processing ditiiculties and communication and relating in social context. The purpose of this study is autistic child be able to share attention, engage with, and interact purpeselirl way which are basic skills from functional emotional developmental capacities.
This research is descriptive study case. Subject is 6,5 years old boy who has low functioning autistic disorder. Research duration for 3 months started from September tmtil December on 2006. Intervention was divided with 3 program were Sensory Integration Therapy, Diet Therapy and Floortime Tlierapy. Subject followed 8 sessions sensory integration therapy and joined with diet program to control his behavior. Sensory integration therapy was conducted by therapist and dict program was controlled by pediatrician. Third intervention started from December 14th until 20th. Researcher had two roles, first as a therapist playing with tloortime methods with subject and the second as an observer when subject and his mother were playing together. Recording data by audiovisual data taking and interviewing method as the process was taken place.
The main result from this research is l) sensory integration therapy help subject to start shared attention and regulate any kind of sensory information; 2) dict therapy also has positive effect to his digestive system and help the mother to manage feeding habit; 3). Floortime therapy can develop functional emotional capacities in 3 areas: shared attention, engagement, and purposeful emotional interaction; 4) Sensory integration therapy can improve subject?s sensory reactivity so he more is alert with environment and help him manage his behavior calmly; 5) to develop functional communication capacities, jlooriime session is useful strategy. The reason is Ileortime can enrich the subject behavior when relating with therapist. The sensitivity to the subject sensory preferences made the engagement come easily. Play activities still focused on sensory-motor play. This findings means sensory integration therapy and dict therapy both are important to make basic skill for subject. Floortime is a basic tool to make the subject want to relate intentionaly with others in fun context."
