Developmental & Relationship-Based

Play-led approaches that build connection and communication before — or alongside — formal skill-teaching.

6 therapies · 2 groups · 1 review published

How we grade the evidence:

Strong — multiple trials or reviews, consistent resultsModerate — good evidence, generally acceptedEmerging — promising, still earlyLimited — well-studied and not shown to help, or too little study to knowControversial — significant debate among researchers, use cautionHarmful — documented risk of harm — not recommended

Play-Based Approaches

Following your child's lead in play to build emotional and social foundations.

Moderate evidence

DIR / Floortime

Child-led play interactions designed to build emotional and relational foundations.

Toddlers – school ageComing soon

Strong evidence

JASPER (Joint Attention, Symbolic Play, Engagement & Regulation)

Naturalistic intervention targeting joint attention and symbolic play.

Toddlers – school ageComing soon

Moderate evidence

Integrated Play Groups (IPG)

Supported play groups pairing autistic and neurotypical peers with guided facilitation.

School ageComing soon

Social-Developmental Models

Combining behavioral science with relationship-building for the earliest years.

Moderate evidence

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)

A landmark early trial found large gains; a bigger, more rigorous trial found more modest ones — real but attenuated benefit for early cognition and language, less so for core autism traits.

12–48 monthsRead review →

Emerging evidence

Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)

Parent-guided program targeting dynamic intelligence and social referencing.

All agesComing soon

Moderate evidence

Social ABCs

Coaching parents to use responsive strategies to build social communication.

ToddlersComing soon

Parents also look at:Communication & Language Sensory & Motor Educational Interventions