Enhancing Interaction Through Positive Touch

Luisa, a lively two-year old with autism, runs around the living room in her family home. She flits from one object to another, first flipping the magazine on the table, then banging a toy on the wall, and then quickly moving to bounce on the couch cushion. Pilar, her mother, has spread toys out on the floor and periodically calls to Luisa to join her in play. Finally, Pilar waits until Lusia is nearby and then rubs her hands together saying, "Do you want a massage, Luisa?" Luisa pauses and then comes over to her mother and sits on her lap. After a few minutes of back and shoulder massage, Luisa is visibly relaxed and is able to sit on the floor with her mother and play with the toys for several minutes. Luisa's mother has built a form of massage called "positive touch" into Luisa's daily routine.