Whether you have a child with autism spectrum disorder, another developmental disability, and/or mental health or behavioral health needs the criteria for an effective consultant/coach is very similar.
First, why do you want a consultant/coach?
1. Children make the most progress when the intervention is consistent across all environments and research has repeatedly demonstrated that parents can be effective interventionists for their own child and quite often are the most effective interventionists for their own child.
2. Even the very best therapists/interventionists use their own consultant/coach. You might even say that the best do and the worst don’t and that’s one of the reasons for the difference.
3. At times, even the very best parents loose objectivity and need another outside expert to take a look and give feedback for difficult, unusual, disabilities, disorders, and circumstances.
4. Not all children are the same. Just like not all adults are the same. Some children respond better to one type of intervention over another and sometime it changes over time.
5. Some children need very specialized and specific types of intervention.
What can you expect from a good consultant/coach?
1. This person will be an expert in working with families and children.
2. This person will have at their disposal additional consultant/coaches to help them help you in areas where your direct consultant/coach is not an expert
3. They will be an expert in the assessment of not only your child; but will be able to assess your resources to better help your child through your child’s and your natural supports. This assessment will include a functional analysis of behavior if there are behavioral issues.
4. They will provide and help you provide ongoing assessment, theirs being more formal and yours being more informal.
5. They will be an expert in providing intervention for the disability, condition, or behaviors your child is exhibiting.
6. They will provide both you and your child with pertinent, applicable, and valuable instruction related to your child’s disability and/or condition and how you can adjust your interactions to better help your child.
7. They will carefully and lovingly provide you with feedback regarding your interactions, and your child’s environment, even when some of it is difficult for you to hear.
8. They will provide directly or in conjunction with another consultant/coach, consultation and/or direct assistance with assistive technology when needed. (This can at times be very low cost and creative uses for common items found around your home.)
9. They will provide you with direct examples and demonstration of the techniques or interventions they are describing. This includes working directly with your child, while you are observing in person, and/or through a two way mirror, and/or by video, and providing feedback as they observe your work with your child. (This can be through ,direct in person interaction, two way mirror, and/or through viewing video of you working with your child. This video may be shared with other consultant/coaches as needed)
10. They will provide ongoing reassessment and adjustment as needed.
11. They will be respectful of your values
12. They will help you integrate intervention into yours and your child’s natural routines, usually eliminating the need to make drastic changes or additions to your schedule.
13. They will work with other educators and/or care providers to assure intervention is consistent across environments.
Supplemental material:
http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/mod_list.php#layout_content_box
http://www.coachinginearlychildhood.org/
http://www.fippcase.org/caseinpoint/caseinpoint_vol4_no1.pdf
Evidence-Based Practice: Parent-Implemented Intervention
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