Autism - Working with Professionals
Submitted by paola on Sun, 10/12/2008 - 17:22 Be informed. Learn as much as you can about your child's disability so you can be an active participant in determining care. If you don't understand terms used by professionals, ask for clarification
Be prepared. Be prepared for meetings with doctors, therapists, and school personnel. Write down your questions and concerns, and then note the answers
Be organized. Many parents find it useful to keep a notebook detailing their autistic child's diagnosis and treatment, as well as meetings with professionals
Communicate. It's important to ensure open communication - both good and bad. If you don't agree with a professional's recommendation for your autistic child, speak up and say specifically why you don't
It is important that parents and professionals work together for the child's benefit in dealing with autism. While professionals will use their experience and training to make recommendations about your child's treatment options, you have unique knowledge about your child needs and abilities that should be taken into account for a more individualized course of action.
Once an autism treatment program is in place, communication between parents and professionals is essential in following the child's progress. Here is some advice for working with professionals:
For more information on autism visit www.aap.org
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