Play and the Child With Autism Spectrum Disorder

From Possibilities to Practice

Mastrangelo, Sonia

¹York University

²Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Sonia Mastrangelo, Faculty of Education, York University, 4700 Keele Street, 030 Winters College Building, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3 [email protected]

International Journal of Play Therapy 18(1):p 13-30, January 2009. | DOI: 10.1037/a0013810

In this article, the author (a) examines the nature of play as it pertains to children with autism spectrum disorder and (b) analyzes the theories surrounding play deficit explanations in this population of children. Possibilities for practice are discussed in terms of behavioral and developmental approaches to play. An argument is made in favor of developmental play therapy for children who have autism spectrum disorder. Support for developmental approaches is shaped by a definition of play that embraces a child-directed model.