The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

This session provides insight into the teamwork necessary to help ALL members of the ASD community (individual, family and professional) reach their full potential. The Blackwell family: mom, dad, siblings (NT and with ASD) will present an array of topics such as family, school and community relationships; embedding interventions into the home and classroom; sibling and extended family issues; team-building; and lessoning the effect of everyday obstacles to success. All of us face obstacles every day. Individuals on the Autism Spectrum face particularly challenging obstacles in the areas of home, school and community relationships. It is heartbreaking as a parent to see our children struggle with these obstacles and it is frustrating as a professional to not know how to support our children in reaching their full potential.
Our first step as parents was when we decided to not look at our children on the Spectrum as “broken” but as individuals of infinite worth and potential and it was our job to remove all the obstacles that we possibly could that stood in the way of them realizing that potential. We learned that some obstacles could not be removed and it became necessary to find a way to make those obstacles less of a factor in their success.  When the gym teacher won’t turn down the music blaring during P.E. there had to be a way to help our son cope with the overload…
We’ve learned that building a team is the most important thing we could focus on, and that the ‘team’ included not only teachers, support staff, therapists, doctors and other professionals; but it also included extended family, coaches, scout leaders, friends and other members of our community. Each has a different role- some much bigger or more hands on than others, but together we could be a part of something incredible.
As we worked on building teams around our sons, we witnessed quite an unexpected phenomena-  as the teams came together, we were all increasing in our knowledge and making great individual gains. We who thought we were putting in this effort to help the individual on the Spectrum were being helped as much ourselves. Starting with the early intervention therapists, we saw the profound effect on each individual that communicating as a team and focusing together on common obstacles had, not only on the individual with ASD, but also for the members of the team. Monthly meetings were utilized during First Steps to coordinate therapy goals and discuss concerns; Brief staffings outside of the regular IEP meetings during preschool continued the progress; email has become the communication tool of choice as life has become busier during the school years. When a concern arises, rather than take valuable time to set up a meeting (usually requiring multiple emails just to secure an available date and time), emails are exchanged, ideas are shared and often a plan is in place in less than a day. Part of overcoming obstacles when the team is involved is making success easier.
In this session you will hear from all the members of our family- mom, dad, siblings with AS and “HFA” as well as their two” NT’ siblings. Challenges, struggles, successes and triumphs will be discussed in an open fashion.
Our goal is to help all members of the ASD community to discover the unlimited potential they have within them. There are many who might be forgotten along the way (i.e.…siblings, grandparents…), as well as professionals focusing on the individual involved, and missing out on personal growth. We are looking forward to an active discussion and hope you come away feeling uplifted, with a new perspective on your family or your work.

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