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Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders pp 1–2Cite as

Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP)

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Synonyms

Chronological age appropriateness; Individual appropriates; Intervention targets and strategies that are related to increased quality of life outcomes

Definition

Developmentally appropriate practice (DAP) refers to providing intervention in a manner that is individually appropriate and culturally relevant for the learner. This term was first introduced by Sue Bredekamp and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in 1987 to warn early educators against the trend of pushing typically developing or gifted children too far too fast, or what some developmental psychologists referred to as “robbing children of their childhood” with deleterious effects that may not show up until adolescence or later. It also has important implications for working with students who have cognitive deficits so that families and interventionists interact with people in a manner that is age appropriate and provide opportunities to people that are both age appropriate and...

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References and Reading

  • Carr, E. G. (2007). The expanding vision of positive behavior support: Research perspectives on happiness, helpfulness, hopefulness. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 9, 3–14.

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  • Copple, C., & Bredekamp, S. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice (in early childhood programs, serving children from birth through age 8). Washington, DC: NAEYC.

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  • Schwartz, I. S., & McBride, B. (2014). Getting a good start: Effective practices in early intervention. In K. D. Burton & P. Wolfberg (Eds.), Educating learners on the autism Spectrum: Preparing highly qualified educators and related practitioners (2nd ed., pp. 82–105). Kansas City: Autism Asperger Publishing Company.

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  • Schwartz, I. S., Ashmun, J., McBride, B., Scott, C., & Sandall, S. (2017). The project DATA model for teaching preschoolers with autism. Baltimore: Brookes.

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  • Schwartz, I. S., Sandall, S. R., McBride, B. J., & Boulware, G. L. (2004). Project DATA (developmentally appropriate treatment for autism): An inclusive, school-based approach to educating children with autism. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 24, 156–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Haring Center for Applied Research and Training in Education, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Ilene Sharon Schwartz

  2. Intervention Services for Autism, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Oklahoma City, OK, USA

    Bonnie McBride

Authors
  1. Ilene Sharon Schwartz
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  2. Bonnie McBride
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ilene Sharon Schwartz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

    Fred R. Volkmar

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Schwartz, I.S., McBride, B. (2018). Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP). In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_616-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_616-3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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