Autism Spectrum Disorders
When a child receives a diagnosis of autism,
Asperger's Syndrome, PDD/PDD-NOS, or
Non-Verbal Learning Disability,
life changes in immeasurable ways.
Parents enter a world of clinicians, evaluations,
therapists, specialists, meetings,
policies, procedures, laws, and an
entirely new way of looking at education.
Education often means Special Education which
translates into IEP meetings ... team members ... terminology ... data collection ...
school-based services and supports ... aides ...
behavioral issues... placement options ...
the list goes on.
Parents quickly recognize the complexity of
the Special Education arena and their need to
learn the process, players, and programming options
in order to meet their child's individual needs
which are often times fast-changing.
The goals of this practice are three-fold:
1. To increase the special education advocacy and negotiation skills for parents of children
diagnosed along the autism spectrum and those with "hidden disabilities."
2. To help teachers and staff effectively support these complex children across all environments.
3. To provide Work/Life programs to support employees with children with special education needs
Training, coaching, consulting, advocacy, resources,
tools, and front-line support is how this is accomplished.
The mission is quite simple...
To ensure that parents have the
"competence and confidence" to advocate for
their children in school using collaborative and
business-sound strategies and to ensure that
teachers are able to help children with
autism spectrum disorders and related
learning challenges realize success in school.
And success in school translates into success
at home,
in the community,
and in life.
