The PLAY Project

What The PLAY Project does

The PLAY Project (P.L.A.Y. = Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) is a Michigan-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by developmental-behavioral pediatrician Dr. Richard Solomon. The organization delivers an evidence-based, parent-implemented autism early intervention program derived from Greenspan's DIR/Floortime model. Its core methodology is the proprietary 7 Circles of PLAY framework, which trains and certifies child development professionals — including speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, early intervention providers, educators, and psychologists — to coach parents of children with autism (ages 14 months to 6 years) in structured, video-feedback-enabled play sessions conducted at home, in clinic, or via the TelePLAY online channel. The program's credibility rests on a 2009 NIH-funded $1.85 million randomized controlled trial (128 children, 5 Easter Seals sites, 4 states, independent evaluation by Michigan State University) — the largest autism intervention study in the U.S. — published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. The organization has trained 500+ certified PLAY Consultants across 30+ states and 9 countries, and its methodology has been adopted statewide by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities as its primary autism-specific Birth-to-3 early intervention program.

The PLAY Project generates revenue through a multi-stream model: (1) three-level professional certification training ($345 Level 1, $295 Level 2, plus Level 3 implementation + supervision priced individually with organizational licensing fees), (2) direct-to-consumer online courses and webinars ($15-$395) sold through its e-commerce PLAY Store, (3) books and guides including 'Autism: The Potential Within' ($39.95) and 'The PLAY Project Parent Guide' ($24.95), (4) paid workshops including the 2-day Intensive Workshop ($395), and (5) organizational licensing with yearly fees for state early intervention systems, schools, and healthcare organizations implementing PLAY at scale. Sub-brands include TelePLAY (remote delivery) and Teaching PLAY (classroom-based application). Marketing is anchored in content (blogs, podcast 'Autism: 10 Lessons for the Course of Life', webinars) and earned media (NPR All Things Considered, Channel 7 News coverage of family outcomes). Customer segments include parents of children with autism, child development professionals seeking CEU-accredited training (ASHA, AOTA, Illinois Early Intervention Credits), and institutional buyers such as state agencies, school districts (e.g., Preble County Ohio implemented across 8 schools), and nonprofits like Easter Seals.

The organization operates with a small core team including the Founder/Medical Director, Training Director (who also serves as Executive Director), Program Director, Communications & Program Coordinator, Office Manager, and Technology & Marketing Coordinator, headquartered at 3027 Miller Rd, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ownership and control are concentrated with founding leadership; the organization has received no disclosed institutional investment beyond the 2009 NIH research grant, and is self-sustaining through training fees, course sales, and organizational licensing.

Name

The PLAY Project

Legal name

The PLAY Project

Website

https://playproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The PLAY Project is a Michigan-based nonprofit that trains and certifies child development professionals to coach parents of young children with autism (ages 14 months to 6 years) using a proprietary, NIH-validated, parent-implemented play-based intervention methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Autism Early Intervention Services

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Autism Teacher Training & Professional Development (EDAKAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Autism Parent/Caregiver Education & Training (School-Linked) (EDAKAKAJ), Autism Classroom & School Program Support (Inclusion/Resource) (EDAKAKAC), Autism Early Intervention (Educational) (EDAKAKAB), Autism Support Instructional Materials (Structured Teaching, Visual Supports) (EDAGAMAK)

Keywords

• Autism early intervention
• Parent-implemented intervention
• Developmental relationship-based therapy
• Professional autism certification
• Play-based autism training

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Training: Three-level certification training program for professionals (SLPs, OTs, social workers, etc.) to become certified PLAY Project Consultants. Level 1 costs $345 for professionals, Level 2 costs $295, and Level 3 (implementation + supervision) is priced individually. Organizations can also request private tailored training for their staff.
2. Online Courses and Training: Direct sales of online courses to parents and professionals including Welcome to PLAY Project ($75), Introduction to Teaching PLAY ($50), Level 1 Foundations of PLAY ($345/$195), Level 2 Mastering the Child Profile ($295/$195), and various mini-courses and webinars ranging from $15-$395.
3. Books and Publications: Sale of books including 'Autism: The Potential Within' ($39.95 paperback) and 'The PLAY Project Parent Guide' ($24.95, also available in Spanish). E-books and free PDF chapters also available.
4. Organization Licensing: Organizations that provide PLAY Project services must obtain a license (starts during Level 3 certification) with a yearly fee. This includes state early intervention systems, rehabilitation agencies, and healthcare organizations.
5. Workshops and Events: Fee-based workshops including Teaching PLAY Workshops ($195-$395), PLAY Project Intensive Workshop Live/Livestream ($395), and various free and paid webinars.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The P.L.A.Y. (Play and Language for Autistic Youngsters) Project is a training and certification program that teaches parents and child development professionals to deliver a play-based, relationship-driven early intervention for young children with autism. The core offering is a three-level professional certification pathway (Level 1 Foundations, Level 2 Child Profile, Level 3 Implementation & Supervision) supported by online courses, workshops, books, webinars, and TelePLAY remote consulting services.

Product overview

The PLAY Project is a training and certification program (not a single product) that offers multiple online courses, workshops, books, webinars, and services for parents, professionals, and educators supporting children with autism. The core offering is the PLAY Project Autism Intervention Program, a parent-implemented developmental relationship-based model. The training pathway consists of three progressive certification levels: Level 1 – Foundations of PLAY, Level 2 – Mastering the Child Profile, and Level 3 – PLAY Implementation Course & Supervision. Supporting products include Teaching PLAY for Schools (classroom-focused program), introductory courses like Welcome to The PLAY Project, and specialized courses such as The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly and Transition Tricks. The company also offers books (Autism: The Potential Within, The PLAY Project Parent Guide), webinars, podcasts (Autism: 10 Lessons for the Course of Life), and TelePLAY online consultation services. Various free resources including book chapters and articles are available through the PLAY Store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TelePLAY: Online application of The PLAY Project's autism intensive intervention program for young children with autism and their families.

Products and services

• PLAY Project Autism Intervention Program Evidence-based, parent-implemented autism early intervention training program that coaches parents to help young children with autism through play-based relationship methods built on the 7 Circles of PLAY framework.
• Level 1 – Foundations of PLAY Self-paced online training course (approximately 7.5 hours) teaching the core principles and framework of The PLAY Project, including the 7 Circles of PLAY and supporting research. Priced at $345 for professionals and $195 for families with 30 days of course access and a certificate of completion.
• Level 2 – Mastering the Child Profile In-depth online course (approximately 6 hours) developing skills to profile a child's development using The PLAY Project's systematic approach, including assessment of Comfort Zone Activities, Sensory-Motor Profile, and Functional Developmental Levels. Priced at $295 for professionals and $195 for families with 30 days of access.
• Level 3 – PLAY Implementation Course & Supervision A 4-week implementation course with weekly live sessions plus 12 structured supervision tasks that prepares trainees to implement The PLAY Project with fidelity in real-world settings and earn certified PLAY Project Consultant status.
• Teaching PLAY for Schools Classroom application of The PLAY Project model focused on helping children with autism in educational settings, with workshops and certification options for school staff.
• Welcome to The PLAY Project Introductory online course (approximately 3 hours, $75) presenting the fundamentals of the evidence-based PLAY approach for engaging children with autism spectrum disorders, with video case studies and practical tips.
• PLAY Project Intensive Workshop Live/Livestream 2-day professional development workshop ($395 via livestream) providing an overview of PLAY Project methods and principles with case studies, video analysis, and group activities.
• TelePLAY Online application of The PLAY Project autism intensive intervention program delivered remotely by certified consultants to families via video conferencing. Multiple TelePLAY providers listed across U.S., Canada, and Europe (Germany).
• Autism: The Potential Within A 636-page book by Richard Solomon, MD ($39.95 paperback) describing the journey of a child with autism and their family learning The PLAY Project approach, from diagnosis to kindergarten entry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children markedly improved ability to interact socially and substantially reduced autism symptoms
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Easter SealscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Easter Seals partnered with PLAY Project for the NIH-funded research study, providing 5 sites across 4 states where 64 children per year were recruited. Easter Seals staff delivered PLAY intervention services while PLAY Project provided training and oversight.
• Michigan State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichigan State University conducted the independent evaluation of the NIH-funded PLAY Project research study, providing objective assessment of intervention outcomes.
• Ohio Department of Developmental DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOhio adopted PLAY as their statewide autism-specific early intervention (Birth to 3) program. All children 18 months to 3 years old diagnosed with ASD or traits of autism receive PLAY services free through this partnership.
• The Childhood LeagueminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNonprofit organization serving young children with autism that has implemented PLAY Project services and provided testimonial support for the program.
• National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent implemented models are recognized by the NPDC as evidence-based interventions. PLAY Project has an entry in the prestigious Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders edited by Fred Volkmer, MD.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Profectum Foundation: Profectum is a non-profit organization that trains professionals and parents in the DIR/Floortime developmental model — the same methodological lineage as The PLAY Project — making it the closest methodological peer and direct competitor for DIR-trained consultants.
• May Institute: May Institute is a national provider of services for children and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities, including early intervention, schools, and consultation, competing for state contracts and institutional autism services market share.
• Hopebridge Autism Therapy Centers: Hopebridge operates a multi-state network of autism therapy centers delivering ABA, speech, and occupational therapy, competing with PLAY for the same families and for institutional autism-services contracts.
• Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL): ICDL was co-founded by Stanley Greenspan, originator of the DIR/Floortime framework that PLAY Project is built on. It certifies professionals in DIR/Floortime, overlapping directly with PLAY's professional certification and parent training offering.
• Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD): CARD is one of the largest U.S. providers of ABA-based autism services, competing with PLAY for the same families, state contracts, and institutional autism-services spending, but using a behavioral rather than developmental/relationship-based approach.
• Behavioral Innovations: Behavioral Innovations is a multi-state provider of ABA-based autism services for young children, targeting the same Birth-to-3 / early-intervention population that PLAY serves through its certified consultant network.

Broad incumbents

• Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks is a large autism advocacy and funding organization that shapes family awareness, research funding, and policy agendas relevant to PLAY's target families and institutional partners, while not delivering intervention services itself.
• Sesame Workshop (Sesame Street and Autism): Sesame Workshop's 'Sesame Street and Autism' initiative produces mainstream educational content for parents of children with autism, competing for top-of-funnel parent attention and authority in autism parenting education.
• National Autism Center: National Autism Center disseminates evidence-based practice standards (NSP/NPDC lineage) and operates the NAC training and consultation programs, influencing which intervention models are considered evidence-based and competing for professional training mindshare.

Emerging players

• RethinkEd: RethinkEd provides a digital platform for special education professional development, behavior strategies, and on-demand training for educators serving students with autism and developmental disabilities — overlapping with PLAY's Teaching PLAY for Schools segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ThePLAYProjectHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePLAYProject
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/playprojectasd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The PLAY Project