The PLAY Project: A Relationship-Based Approach to Supporting Young Children with Autism

When families begin exploring therapy options for their child with autism (or suspected autism), the landscape can feel VERY overwhelming. Many programs focus on clinic-based services or highly structured approaches that don’t always fit naturally into family life. The PLAY Project (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) offers a different path.

What Is the PLAY Project?
The PLAY Project is an evidence-based, relationship-focused early intervention program designed for young children with autism or suspected autism, typically between the ages of 2 and 6. Rather than relying on a therapist to work directly with a child in a clinic setting, the PLAY Project is built around a parent coaching model. A trained PLAY Project Consultant partners with caregivers to teach practical, play-based strategies that can be woven into everyday routines and interactions.

The goal is to strengthen a child’s social engagement, emotional connection, and communication skills through joyful, meaningful play—while also building caregivers’ confidence and skill in supporting development across the day and not just during PLAY therapy sessions.

How the Program Works
Families enrolled in the PLAY Project typically receive two home visits per month over the course of around nine months. During each visit, the consultant joins the family in natural, play-based interactions with the child. Short video clips are recorded (with your consent and ONLY shared between you and your consultant) to capture moments of shared attention, communication attempts, regulation, and connection.

At the next visit, the consultant and caregiver review these video clips together. This reflective process helps highlight the child’s strengths, skills, and communication cues that may be easy to miss in the moment. From there, the consultant offers individualized feedback and concrete suggestions for strategies to try between sessions.

What Makes the PLAY Project Different?
One of the most distinctive features of the PLAY Project is its emphasis on relationships and emotional connection as the foundation for learning. Instead of focusing on compliance or isolated skill drills (…like ABA…) the program prioritizes:

• Following the child’s lead

• Building shared joy and engagement

• Supporting regulation and emotional safety

• Encouraging natural communication

• Strengthening back-and-forth interaction

This approach aligns closely with what we know about early brain development: children learn best when they feel safe, connected, and motivated.

Who Is a Good Fit for the PLAY Project?
The PLAY Project is designed for families of young children (generally ages 2–6) with a diagnosis of autism or suspected autism. It can be especially helpful for families who:

• Prefer a home-based, family-centered approach

• Want strategies that fit into real-life routines

• Value relationship-building and emotional connection

• Are looking for a complement or alternative to more traditional therapy models

• Want to feel confident supporting their child’s development outside of therapy sessions

The program can be used on its own or alongside other services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, or developmental therapy, depending on the child’s needs and the family’s goals.

Why Parent Coaching Matters
One of the most powerful aspects of the PLAY Project is its focus on parents as active partners in therapy. Instead of handing families a list of exercises to complete, consultants work collaboratively with caregivers to reflect, problem-solve, and adjust strategies based on what’s actually happening at home.

This coaching model helps ensure that progress doesn’t depend on a therapist being present. Families leave sessions with practical tools they can use immediately, increasing consistency, carryover, and long-term impact.

How the PLAY Project Differs From Traditional Therapies (and Why Both Matter)
The PLAY Project is often misunderstood as a replacement for traditional therapies like occupational therapy (OT), speech therapy (ST), or developmental therapy (DT).

Traditional therapies such as OT, ST, and DT are typically led by licensed clinicians who assess specific developmental domains and target measurable skill areas. For example, OT may focus on fine motor skills, sensory processing, self-help skills, and regulation; and ST may target expressive and receptive language, articulation, and social communication. These services are essential for children and play a critical role in building foundational skills.

The PLAY Project, by contrast, is not a discipline-specific therapy and does not replace medically or educationally necessary services. Instead, it is a relationship-based, parent-coached intervention that focuses on strengthening the child’s capacity for social engagement, emotional connection, and back-and-forth interaction through play. The emphasis is more on creating meaningful, motivating interactions that support development in a naturalistic way.

Another key difference is who leads the intervention. In traditional therapies, the therapist is often the primary change agent, guiding activities and directly working with the child during sessions. In the PLAY Project, parents and caregivers are coached to become the primary facilitators of intervention. The consultant’s role is to observe, reflect, and guide caregivers in using responsive, play-based strategies throughout everyday routines.

Rather than viewing these approaches as “either/or,” many families find that the PLAY Project works best alongside traditional therapies. Traditional therapies can target specific developmental needs with clinical precision, while the PLAY Project helps families generalize skills into daily life, deepen emotional connection, and support social-communication growth across the day.

Together, these approaches can create a well-rounded, family-centered support system.

Local PLAY Project Provider
Families in the Champaign-Urbana area can access the PLAY Project through Developmental Services Center with Heather Johnson, currently the only local PLAY Project Consultant currently serving our county. You can also access PLAY Project completely through telehealth. Providers can be found here.

This overview includes insights shared by Heather Johnson, currently our only local PLAY Project Consultant serving the Champaign-Urbana community. We are grateful for her collaboration and expertise in supporting local families!