Engineer
The Engineer looks at the plan, explains which pieces are needed and gives one step at a time.
Skills supported
- Giving information
- Sequencing
- Describing
- Checking understanding
- Sharing an idea through another person
Program One
Solongo Brick-Based Therapy
Build Together. Communicate Together. Grow Together.
Solongo Brick-Based Therapy is a structured, play-based small-group program that uses collaborative building to create natural opportunities for children to communicate, cooperate and solve problems with peers.
Children work towards one shared goal. The focus is not on creating a perfect model — it is on participation, communication, teamwork and shared achievement.
Why it's different
More Than a Building Class
In an ordinary building activity, children may work beside one another.
In Solongo Brick-Based Therapy, they need one another.
Children work toward one shared goal. Each child holds a different part of the information, materials or task, creating natural reasons to request, listen, explain, wait and solve problems together.
Ordinary Building Activity
- Children may build independently.
- The model is often the main outcome.
- Communication may be optional.
- Problems may be solved by the adult.
Solongo Brick-Based Therapy
- Children have interdependent roles.
- Communication has a real purpose.
- The model must light up, move or respond.
- Children test, repair and improve together.
- The facilitator supports peer-to-peer interaction.
The goal is not a perfect model.
The goal is meaningful participation, communication and teamwork.
How it works
Everyone Has an Important Role
The group uses three clear roles so that every child contributes something the team needs.
Supplier
The Supplier listens to requests, finds the correct pieces and provides them to the Builder.
Skills supported
- Listening
- Responding
- Categorising
- Waiting
- Shared attention
- Clarification
Builder
The Builder follows the instructions, assembles the model and tells the team when something is unclear or does not fit.
Skills supported
- Following directions
- Requesting help
- Problem reporting
- Persistence
- Teamwork
Roles are rotated with support so that children can practise different ways of communicating and contributing.
Technology with a purpose
What Makes the AI Seed System Different?
Traditional large-format building blocks support creativity, structure and shared play.
AI Seed adds a functional technology layer.
Lights
Children can create visible signals and immediate outcomes.
Buttons
Children learn that an intentional action can control what happens next.
Motors
Shared models can move, creating real reasons to test and improve.
Sensors
Models can respond when an object approaches or the environment changes.
Simple Logic
Children begin to predict input and output, notice cause and effect, and troubleshoot as a team.
The technology is not there to replace social interaction.
It creates new concept for children to communicate, cooperate and solve problems together.
- Build
- Connect
- Predict
- Test
- Repair
- Share
Developmental focus
Five Areas the Program Is Designed to Support
1. Social Communication
Requesting, explaining, responding, clarifying and asking for help.
2. Social Interaction
Turn-taking, sharing materials, joint attention and contributing to a shared goal.
3. Executive Function
Planning, following steps, remembering roles, changing strategies and completing tasks.
4. Emotional Regulation
Waiting, handling mistakes, requesting a break, accepting support and returning to the activity.
5. Strengths & Future Capability
Spatial thinking, mechanical understanding, creativity, logic, technology confidence and pride in contribution.
Every session has one primary developmental focus, while the other areas are naturally supported through the shared activity.
The pilot program
The First Six-Week Journey
- Week 1
Team Roo-ver
Build a shared rover and activate its navigation light.
Primary focus: Social communication
- Week 2
Deep-Sea Light Fish
Create one shared ocean model with a glowing feature.
Primary focus: Social interaction
- Week 3
Wildlife Camera Flash
Use a button to control a light and follow a clear sequence.
Primary focus: Executive function
- Week 4
Mini Golf Bot Challenge
Use a motor, take turns and manage unexpected results.
Primary focus: Emotional regulation
- Week 5
Happy Dog Sensor Tail
Predict how a sensor will activate movement.
Primary focus: Strengths and future capability
- Week 6
Safe Construction Site
Combine a button-controlled gate and sensor-triggered warning light in one final team challenge.
Primary focus: Integrated five-domain practice
Step by step
What Happens in a Session?
1. Check In
Children use visual supports to understand the session and communicate readiness.
2. Meet the Mission
The group receives one shared building and technology challenge.
3. Take a Role
Each child becomes Engineer, Supplier or Builder.
4. Build and Connect
The team constructs the model and adds the AI Seed technology.
5. Test and Repair
Children predict, test, experience mistakes and work together to improve the system.
6. Reflect
The group identifies what worked, what was difficult and what each child contributed.
Suitability
Who May Benefit from Solongo Brick-Based Therapy?
The program may suit children who:
- Enjoy building, systems, machines, vehicles, animals, lights or technology
- Benefit from clear roles and visual routines
- Need support with peer interaction or turn-taking
- Find open-ended social groups difficult
- Are learning to ask for help or clarify misunderstandings
- Benefit from practising flexibility and coping with mistakes
- Are ready for a professionally supported small-group experience
Participation is based on individual suitability and group matching, not diagnosis alone.
The Program Is Not Limited to Boys
Interests in building, systems and technology are not gender-specific. Solongo Brick-Based Therapy is open to children of all genders whose interests and support needs match the program.
Our commitment
We Do Not Ask Children to Hide Who They Are
Solongo Brick-Based Therapy does not aim to make children appear less autistic or force one "correct" style of communication. The program:
- Does not require eye contact
- Accepts speech, gesture, visual cards, writing and AAC
- Allows appropriate breaks and sensory supports
- Values focused interests
- Recognises different communication styles
- Measures progress through meaningful participation, not compliance alone
- Helps children use genuine interests as bridges to connection
A child's strong interest is not something to remove.
It may be the bridge that helps them participate, contribute and connect.
What Makes This a Next-Generation Program?
The most advanced part of Solongo Brick-Based Therapy is not simply the motor, sensor or light. It is the way five elements work together:
- 1
Structured Collaborative Roles
- 2
Functional Technology Projects
- 3
Five Development Domains
- 4
Professional Early Intervention Guidance
- 5
Meaningful Parent Feedback
Interest becomes participation.
Participation becomes communication.
Communication becomes collaboration.
Collaboration grows into confidence and future capability.
Program note: Solongo Brick-Based Therapy is a structured, evidence-informed, play-based program. It is not a cure for autism and does not replace individualised assessment, speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology or other professional supports where these are required.