Networking To Find Autism Advocate Bay Area

By Enid Hinton


Having a child with a disability is never easy. There are a host of challenges that face the parents of a child diagnosed as autistic. These can range from securing the right services to finding help with employment. The entire family must work together to ensure that their child gets every possible assistance. Working with a good advocacy group is one of the best ways to find the most appropriate help.

Each year many thousands of children are diagnosed on the Autism spectrum. It is at this time that parents should seek out an autism advocate Bay area. These experienced individuals are often parents themselves who have spent years negotiating they system and know all the challenges the new parent faces. They can provide both emotional and practical support to help everyone achieve their full potential.

Most autistic children are not diagnosed at birth. The sad irony of the situation is that most families leave the hospital with no idea that anything is wrong and no clue about the difficulties that lie ahead. They have no way to prepare for the changes that will happen to them. Being unable to prepare is one of the hardest things to cope with and many parents say this makes them feel as though they have let their child down in many ways. Moving ahead after such negative feelings is crucial and an essential part of the overall recovery process.

The parents will meet with local services and education authorities to put together an individualized plan. This is where an experienced advocate is so important. They will totally understand how to get the best services and really give the child the best possible chance. Studies have proved that the more help a child receives in their first few years, the better their overall prognosis for the future.

It takes many years of experience to learn about the laws surrounding special education and related services. There are many ways to secure necessary services without having to resort to confrontation. Parents need to know how important it is to maintain a cordial relationship with the local school system so that they get the best for their child. It is also important to be able to meet with teachers and school personnel on a regular basis.

An autistic child will typically require intensive speech and language services. With a young child this might begin with sign language. Signing has been scientifically shown to prompt speech skills in many children and has enormous value. It allows a child to communicate with those around them, even before they are ready to talk. Sign language is quite easy to learn and the whole family can participate.

Navigating the school system is one of the biggest challenges for most families. An autistic child may need a specialized placement in a smaller facility with specially trained staff. Advocacy groups typically have access to special education attorneys who really understand the law.

Most local agencies will help to connect parents with local advocacy groups. However, word of mouth is also a valuable resource. Many people also go on line to find their nearest group. All of these methods can be tremendously helpful to the entire family. After all there is so much that can be done to help every autistic child.




About the Author:



No comments:

Medical Updates and Health Tips