A Letter to Parents : Taking Charge: Become the Boss of Your Child’s Autism Network
Caring for a child with Autism takes a network or team of highly trained and dedicated individuals. It is not uncommon for a parent to have doctors, therapists, teachers, counselors, school administrators and others all contributing to the care of his or her child.
The challenge facing many parents in this situation is that they do not know who to listen to or what direction to go. This is because many times there can be differing opinions and strategies for implementing a care and treatment solution for their child.
To somebody on the outside this can seem like such an easy process, however, for parents of children with autism, taking charge and becoming the boss of this network of professionals can be a difficult task. For most families, they are told their child has a diagnosis of autism and then sent on their way home, with few tools and information on what steps to take next.
Because of this model, families often let professionals tell them what to do, even when in question. Not because families do not want to be in control, but because families do not know how to gain control over their program and they often feel insecure about being in charge; they do not want to fail their children. Even families with medical backgrounds can get caught up in the professional-led programs and therapies, asking few questions and making minimal requests.
This is not to say that experienced professionals cannot provide families with wonderful guidance and assistance in programming. They most certainly can. Ultimately though, families should have the final say so. It is important to remember that the professionals might be experts in Autism, but you are the expert when it comes to your child!
The purpose of this site is simply to help you gain control over your child’s program and the network of professionals implementing it. We want to help you get your life back.
Yes, this is not the road you thought you were going down when you first laid eyes on your new baby; however, it is the road that has chosen you.
We want you and your family to be in charge, instead of letting autism take over your life. Too many times, we have seen families fall apart because they let autism completely control your life. Our purpose is to teach you key strategies and techniques that can help keep your family together while also teaching your child important life skills.
We look forward to helping you take control of your Autism Network.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Tara Warwick, Occupational Therapist
Kelli Marshall, Speech Therapist