Family-centered music therapy in the home environment: Promoting interpersonal engagement between children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents

Abstract

Family-centered practice is a widespread approach guiding how early intervention services support families with children with special needs such as autism spectrum disorder. An important feature of this support is its provision in natural settings such as the home environment. Ultimately, family-centered practitioners endeavor to embed therapeutic approaches into the child's daily routines so that they can be facilitated in part by the family. This approach is particularly useful with young children with autism spectrum disorder as a way of promoting interpersonal engagement and therefore the development of early social and communication skills. A model for applying family-centered practice ..