Heartworks®, developed by DanaKae Bonahoom, M.A., is a comprehensive intervention Model that is at its core an authentic Developmental Model.  The cornerstone of Heartworks® is the foundational belief that “all children come to know and be known” and that “All behavior has a communication”.  This can only occur when a deep respectful, loving connection is established and is essential for the child to feel valued and willing to work towards their goals. Heartworks® helps parents and professionals “get beyond the label” and understand each child’s unique profile. It searches for the gaps in a child’s development, identifies the child’s unique sensory processing profile and deficits, and captures the child’s heart and drive by harnessing their internal drivers (the loves of the child’s heart), enabling them to willingly climb the developmental ladder.
     Heartworks® pioneers a new concept of “follow the need”, which looks beyond the physical needs of the sensory and central nervous system, beyond the biological differences in children, to what are the needs of the family and environmental structure.
     Heartworks® works well with children of a variety of developmental capacities and challenges. The approach is holistic and encourages an integrated approach in the family, therapy and school setting. It encourages emotional and intellectual growth in the child by tailoring the approach to the individual child’s needs and core deficits. The Heartworks® approach enables parents, educators, clinicians to use structured, semi-structured and playful “child inspired” interactions to master developmental milestones including creative and abstract thinking formerly thought beyond their reach. This methodology has proven to benefit both the child with special needs and the neuro-typical child.
     As a developmental model, Heartworks® has its foundation in the well researched field of early childhood developmental interventions, and the work of Dr. Stanley Greenspan helped inform the conceptualization of Heartworks.
     In the recent years, the increase of children with special needs and learning difficulties has been tremendous. These include those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, which now affects 1 in 104 children, and sensory processing disorder which is believed to affect 15 to 20% of all children!  These numbers are staggering and without help and support, these children face great difficulties both academically and socially. Often these problems are written off as behaviour or discipline issues, and the children do not receive the appropriate intervention. All available research in this area verifies that Early Intervention can radically change a child’s prognosis and future.  These services can change the future for not only the child but also the family and our society at large.