What is the Early Start Denver Model?
The Early Start Denver Model is an evidence-based, comprehensive, play-based therapy that helps autistic children develop social communication skills, play skills, relationships and language through everyday activities.
The Early Start Denver Model combines Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) approaches with developmental approaches.
Other common names for this therapy include the Denver Model.
Who is the Early Start Denver Model for?
This therapy is designed for autistic toddlers and preschoolers or children in this age group with early signs of autism.
What is the Early Start Denver Model used for?
The Early Start Denver Model uses play to increase children’s interest in activities and other people. It helps children learn that communicating with others is useful and positive, so they’re motivated to keep trying. It also aims to improve communication skills and self-expression.
Where does the Early Start Denver Model come from?
The Early Start Denver Model was developed in the United States in 1981. It was initially called the ‘play school model’, because its key activities happened as part of children’s play activities.
What is the idea behind the Early Start Denver Model?
Autistic children need support to learn communication skills and develop relationships. The Early Start Denver Model aims to help children learn these skills by:
- focusing on the communication and relationship skills children already have
- using play to gradually build on these skills in an intensive, structured and enjoyable way.
This therapy is based on having or developing strong, positive relationships between children and their carers. The therapy encourages these relationships by focusing on activities children enjoy and using these activities as the basis for teaching.
What does the Early Start Denver Model involve?
This therapy involves working with an Early Start Denver Model team. This team is usually made up of a therapist, early intervention staff and parents.
The team works together to develop the child’s tailored program, which includes objectives, goals and activities targeting skill development. The therapist helps parents and other carers learn how to implement the program whenever they’re with their children.
The program is used in different settings – one-to-one intensive teaching or therapy sessions, group sessions, specialised child care settings, typical preschool settings and home.
The child’s progress is reviewed regularly.
Does the Early Start Denver Model help autistic children?
High-quality research shows that this therapy has positive effects, particularly on children’s language development and other communication skills.
Who practises the Early Start Denver Model?
Usually, a team made up of parents and professionals use the Early Start Denver Model. Team members might be early childhood educators, psychologists, speech pathologists or occupational therapists with training in this therapy.
Where can you find a practitioner?
To find a trained therapist in Australia, see the Early Start Denver Model list of certified therapists.
If you’re interested in the Early Start Denver Model, it’s a good idea to speak about this therapy with your GP or one of the other professionals working with your child. You could also talk about it with your NDIA planner, early childhood partner or local area coordinator, if you have one.
Parent education, training, support and involvement
If your child is using the Early Start Denver Model, you work with professionals to develop your child’s program. Once you’re trained, you can do the program at home and regularly meet with the team to review progress.
Cost considerations
The cost of the Early Start Denver Model varies, depending on the provider and the number of hours each week that children spend doing the program.
For children attending several sessions a week, the costs can be high. For children doing the therapy in a specialised child care or preschool setting, the costs might be lower. You can also do the therapy at home to help with costs.
You might be able to include the cost of using the Early Start Denver Model in children’s NDIS plans. You can contact the NDIS to find out.
Therapies and supports for autistic children range from behavioural therapies and developmental approaches to medicines and alternative therapies. When you understand the main types of therapies and supports for autistic children, it’ll be easier to work out the approach that will best suit your child.