For people with ASD (autism spectrum disorder), family, friends, and caregivers are pivotal in creating a safe and supportive environment. Family members also play a vital role in autism therapy, bridging structured interventions and day-to-day life. If you are exploring autism therapy in New Mexico, or a support system for your child or loved one to develop their social skills in autism in New Mexico, learning how to advocate is essential to their success. This article will discuss how your role as a family member can significantly impact your child or loved one’s progress.
Understand ASD
Education is the first step in advocacy – understanding ASD in general and how it affects your loved one specifically will play a central role in your ability to advocate effectively. Doing extensive research to ensure you have comprehensive knowledge of ASD will help you better understand your loved one’s strengths and challenges and how to support them. These are some ways that you can deepen your knowledge:
Research: Using the vast resources available online – articles, websites, and blogs can be an excellent source of trustworthy information. Credible online resources can provide you with strategies and techniques that can help you to support your child’s therapy at home.
Attend workshops or seminars: If you hear of any workshops or seminars being held in your area, attend them if your schedule allows. Many centers that offer autism therapy New Mexico host groups and training sessions for loved ones and caregivers of children with ASD. Attending sessions like this will also help you meet and engage with experts and other caregivers who can become essential to your support network.
Communicate: Ensure that you have open and honest lines of communication with everyone involved in your child’s care. Ask your child’s therapist, teachers, and any other people in their support network questions to gain insight into their progress and well-being. Staying informed is vital to providing the necessary support to your child at home.
Be an active participant in therapy:
Your involvement in your child’s therapy can significantly impact their progress and development. Whether they are working on behavioral goals or developing their social skills in autism New Mexico, your support and engagement is a great part of their success. These are some of the ways that you can actively participate in your child’s therapy sessions:
Observe sessions: In whatever way may be permitted/ encouraged by your child’s therapy center or behavioral technician, observe your child’s therapy sessions. This can give you valuable insight into their progress and help you to understand how to implement techniques at home.
Practice strategies at home: With the guidance of your child’s behavioral technician, implement therapeutic techniques at home. This is important for consistency and will help to encourage the general application of adaptive behaviors.
Communicate: As important as it is for you to understand how your child is progressing in their therapy sessions, so it is for your child’s therapist to know how they are progressing at home. This is essential for your child’s therapist to ensure that the current therapy plan is suitable, and/ or when it needs adjustments.
Advocate in school settings:
School is where children spend the majority of their time, so it is crucial that they feel safe, comfortable, and supported in this environment.
Collaborate with teachers: Your child’s teachers will act as their caregivers while at school, so they need to understand your child and their needs as well as you do. Building a strong relationship with your child’s teachers and ensuring that your support in their educational journey is aligned is a significant aspect of their success at school.
Request in IEP or 504 plan if appropriate: These individualized plans outline the accommodations and support structures that your child needs to thrive at school. Having these in place ensures that all parties are aligned in their approach to supporting your child and their development.
Promote social opportunities: Encouraging your child’s school to include education and awareness programs for autism can be a great way for you and your child to build strong connections and encourage others to learn more about autism.