ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how play can be used when individual differences make access to services problematic. It discusses the use of play as a communication and therapeutic tool for adults who may have different needs, such as a learning difficulties, autism or dementia. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity but this definition has not been amended since 1948. Orwell Arts, part of the wider Garvald Edinburgh community and based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner, uses the creative arts along with therapeutic participation in the core activities of daily living, to engage and enliven the wellbeing of individuals with learning difficulties. In contrast, Lego-based therapy is a systematic model for engaging and working with young people with autism, focusing on a specific skill set and utilizing existing enthusiasms as a point of both engagement and behavioral change.
