FAMILY TRAINING AND SUPPORT
While the majority of educational efforts are rightly focused on the child, high quality
programs also incorporate family members, and consider their values, concerns, and
priorities. Consistent collaboration between educational personnel and family
members is essential to the success of all young students, especially those with
Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
What is Family Training?
Service providers are responsible for making substantial efforts to recognize, value
and assist parents as partners in the development and implementation of a child’s
individual service plan. “Family Training” is one of the services offered through the
Preschool Special Education Program to actively support families and enable them to
acquire new skills for increasing appropriate behaviors and reducing challenging
behaviors of their child. The intent of family training is to help families embrace the
methodology and have it become part of their daily lives.
Family training can and should be an integral part of a child’s interventions. A family
trainer will help parents be active participants in the intervention team to the extent of
their interests, resources and abilities. Family training will provide parents with a
chance to review their child’s progress, discuss any concerns, and update their child’s
program.
Why is Family Training Important?
Research shows that when parents take an active role in their child’s intervention the
outcomes are more successful. Family training is important to help families
incorporate behavioral and communication techniques into the daily routines of the
child and family and to ensure consistency in the intervention approach . *
What Can I Expect From My Family Trainer?
Your family trainer is your intervention team contact and will get in touch with you
after your CPSE meeting. Here are some of the topics you may want to discuss with
your training professional:
• Your child’s diagnosis
• Your child’s behavior and development (strengths and needs)
• Your concerns
• Interventions that can be used
• What you can expect from all parties involved
Parents may be asked to fill out a questionnaire for the family trainer. This will help
prioritize your concerns about the child. The programs that are devised for each child
should be a direct result of the evaluation and all of the factors mentioned.
*(NYS DOH Clinical Practice Guidelines, Report of
the Recommendations, Second Printing, pg.140).
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