06/12/2025
DIR Floortime Training with Thye Hua Kuan Moral Charities — A Meaningful Return
Last week’s DIR Floortime training with Thye Hua Kuan Moral Charities was special in a way I didn’t quite expect. When I walked into the room, I was greeted by so many familiar faces — people I had crossed paths with years ago. It felt like a wonderful reunion and a reminder of how small and interconnected our community truly is.
What stood out most was the group of occupational therapists from the adult services team (supporting adults with developmental challenges). They planted themselves right in front of the room, fully present, soaking in every part of the discussion. Their goal was clear:
to deepen their understanding of relationship-based approaches, and to integrate sensory knowledge in a way that truly supports their clients’ ability to connect, engage, and function meaningfully in daily life.
Many adults in their care have long therapeutic histories—often shaped by behaviour-focused work and the technical use of reinforcers. Even when reinforcers fade out, the deeper layers of sensory processing, emotional connection, and shared attention still need intentional support. This is where the Floortime perspective offers fresh possibility, especially for a population that is often overlooked in developmental frameworks.
And here’s the part many don’t see:
While we talk often about caregivers of adults with developmental needs, we rarely acknowledge the therapists supporting them. Many of these therapists work quietly, sometimes feeling alone in their practice. There are limited programmes, limited training opportunities, and very few commercial tools designed for adults with developmental differences.
It can feel like they are asked to navigate without a map.
So seeing their curiosity, their questions, their passion for their clients — that was the real highlight of the day for me. Their commitment deserves more attention, more support, and more resources.
To the team: thank you for showing up so fully. I wish each of you the very best as you use these ideas in your practice, and I’m excited to walk alongside you in the next stage of your learning journey.
