Daily Life Therapy and Autism Ranking:

Key Features

Daily life therapy (also known as the Higashi method) is a form of specialised education for autistic children and young people attending one of two special schools located in Tokyo, Japan and Boston, USA.

According to the Boston Higashi School website, 6 January 2017,

“Daily Life Therapy is 24 hours of structured educational programming which focuses on the whole person’s character through “heart-to-heart” education. Based on bonding between students and teachers, it is an educational philosophy and way of teaching...”

Daily life therapy consists of an intensive and highly structured educational programme based around three key areas: 1) Physical Stamina Building; 2) Emotional Stability; 3) Intellectual Stimulation.

Pupils are encouraged to learn through an active approach with the focus on developing physical fitness, body co-ordination and emotional stability. The academic curriculum includes maths, science, social studies, technology and the arts.

Most of the teaching is delivered via direct instruction in groups, with an emphasis on reciting and repeating words or copying the behaviours of the other students or teachers.

Three Pillars

According to the Boston Higashi School website, 6 January 2017,

“Daily Life Therapy employs a holistic approach in educating the whole child using three fundamental pillars: 1) Physical Stamina Building; 2) Emotional Stability; 3) Intellectual Stimulation

Together, these pillars provide the core foundation of a broad and full education, rather than merely focusing on remediating deficits.”

Physical Stamina Building

“Students can use vigorous physical exercise to learn to regulate their biological “rhythms of life,” and thus gain many other benefits in health, mood, awareness of one’s surroundings, and concentration, without relying solely on the use of medication.”

Emotional stability

“In this vibrant and energetic environment, through a consistent, highly structured approach using group dynamics, teachers bond closely with each student to achieve emotional stability so that understanding and trust can develop through ‘heart-to-heart’ education.

Intellectual Stimulation

“Through group dynamics in classes, students are naturally taught social interactions and relationships as they study a broad-based, age-appropriate curriculum. Integrating literacy, math, science, social studies, technology and the arts (consisting equally of music, art, and physical education), our students experience a wide range of subjects to engage the mind.”

Specific services and programmes

The Boston Higashi School provides a number of services including a day programme, a residential programme and an employment education programme.

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Apr 2017

Next Review

01 Aug 2023