Decoded: Dir Model in Special Education Schools


Yesterday in the subway, I met a special child. His cute smile, quirky eyes and the lovely voice he spoke in.. He was indeed special. After coming back home, I thought of children like him and realized that we so-called ‘normal’ humans, in chasing what is called a ‘normal life’, have somewhat forgotten about them. Regrettably, some members of our society perceive them as a burden, a problem. But I believe that children with special needs are not a problem at all. In fact the problem lies within our own society who perceives them as abnormal. I feel that all of us have the responsibility to make this world a better place for everyone, including them. A world where they can shape their own lives the way they want. For that, we need to help people become educated and aware of the major developments that are happening in the world of special needs services. Specifically, I recently learned about the DIR model (developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan) that can help them become the best version of themselves that they can be. Many highly successful members of our society suffered from developmental delays. One example that comes to mind is Stephen Hawking, the famous physicist who became a leader in his field despite his disability.



‘D’ stands for – Developmental. According to the DIR model, there are six developmental levels that are quintessential for a child’s emotional as well as intellectual growth. These include two-way communication, complex communication, emotional and logical thinking, self-regulation and interest in the world, emotional ideas, intimacy, engagement and falling in love. So, ‘D’ denotes the method to identify the developmental stage the child is in and accordingly design his education plan.

‘I’ stands for - Individual differences. The model believes that there are certain unique qualities and talents that every child possesses. Each child is different in the way he/she responds to any given situation. The model thus recognizes and gives due significance to the individual differences that all children have. Hence, their way of learning should also be designed differently. Each child must be dealt with individually and should not be compared to others.

‘R’ stands for - Relationships based. It is an integral component because if you want to be helping a child with their emotional or cognitive development you first need to know how much he/she are comfortable with other children, their parents, caretakers, therapists, etc. This approach focusses on increasing self-esteem as well as the confidence of the child.

Floortime is very crucial element in the DIR model which is used for applying the model into practice. It accredits a greater role to the parents and family members in the development of the child as he/she have an emotional relationship with them. In the words of Stanley Greenspan, “Floortime is the cornerstone; the engine that drives the DIR model and drives the developmental process.

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