BTS SUGA's Proposed 'Basketball Therapy' Helps Improve Social and Communication Skills in Autistic Youth
Treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes not only speech and behavioral therapy bu a variety of programs that incorporate activities such as music and exercise. With the enthusiastic support of BTS member SUGA (33), who is known for his love of basketball, the Severance Hospital's Min Yoongi Treatment Center recently introduced a basketball-based therapeutic program called MIND-PLAY for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. The program began a pilot operation on the 2nd. The program is based on DRIB (Developmental, Relationship-based Integrated Basketball), an inclusive basketball model developed by the Korean American Special Education Center (KASEC), which supports Korean Americans with developmental disabilities in the United States, MIND-PLAY adapts the DRIB model to fit the Korean context. In MIND-PLAY, each adolescent with autism is paired with a volunteer who provides one-on-one support. The volunteer first demonstrates the activities and offers verbal en...