The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

The presenter, both a parent of an adult son with autism and a professional in the field, will describe the difficulties that parents and professionals may face when developing a working relationship. The presentation will cover the many stressors that both parents and professionals may bring to a new relationship and how these can influence their ability to work together. Strategies will be discussed for collaboration and negotiation and how to keep the focus on the child. It is often a challenge for parents and professionals to collaborate successfully. There are many factors which influence what each party brings to the relationship. This presentation will discuss the challenges facing both parents and professionals and how each party can work toward developing successful collaborative relationships.

The presenter, a parent of an adult son with autism with her own experience working with professionals, is also a professional who has worked with families for over 15 years. She has lead trainings on advocacy and parenting for Division TEACCH and also for the Autism Society of NC and local Chapters in the state. She will discuss the reasons why working with families is so important towards developing a successful program for a child on the autism spectrum. This will include how families provide critical family history and information about the child, how families provide a continuity of treatment, and the importance of the parent involvement in successful early intervention programs.

She will also present what parents bring to a parent/professional relationship including: their personal beliefs, family history, financial and marital issues, and the many emotions that parents go through following the diagnosis of their child. The presenter will also discuss the physical impact of parenting these children and it’s affect on a parent’s ability to contribute to the relationship. The previous history the parent has had with professionals can also influence how they may enter into a new parent/professional relationship and that will be discussed. The presenter will discuss the resulting feelings parents may have when these factors come into play.

It is also important for the parent to understand what professionals may bring to a parent/professional relationship. The presenter will discuss the different stressors on professionals such as: whether or not they have experience working with individuals with autism, their previous history working with parents, the controversies concerning treatment and cure, and the many limitations and demands of the system in which they work.

The presentation will then focus on strategies for promoting a positive relationship including getting to know the family, developing a foundation of trust and how to move from conflict to cooperation. The presenter will emphasize the importance of listening for both parents and professionals. She will also discuss the importance of acknowledging and respecting others who you are working with and how to use language in negotiations that fosters teamwork.

Learning Objectives: