The Autism Society Event and Education Recordings Archive

When parents and professionals do not fulfill their roles effectively, frustration abounds and students’ needs go unmet. The modern militia provides a useful analogy for the community supporting students with disabilities and creates a platform for examining and coordinating the efforts of all members of our “village.” Parents raising children with autism frequently struggle to meet all the responsibilities placed on them.  They research intervention methods, locate and coordinate service providers, and battle against their schools and agencies, all while trying to be good parents (and spouses, and employees).  Too often, they grow isolated attempting to become every therapist and advocate their child needs, or they develop into harried case managers.  Well-intentioned professionals may worsen the situation by offering parent training that directs parents to take an active role in their child’s therapy, rather than parent support that strengthens their role as caregivers and primary decision-makers.  Parents are stymied when their professional partners do not serve them in the way they expect, and professionals become frustrated by parents who appear to lack social or behavioral boundaries, demand extraordinary attention, or fail to follow through on seemingly reasonable requests.

How can we strengthen our “village” of parents and professionals, all of whom share a commitment to the exceptional child, so that each one fulfills the appropriate role effectively?

The modern militia provides a useful analogy for the coordinated interplay of various roles and areas of expertise around a central mission.  By exploring the responsibilities and authority of the Lead Pilot, Wingman, and Special Forces, we gain practical direction for establishing clear roles, boundaries, and expectations for our relationships as parents, advocates and attorneys, teachers, and therapists.  An interactive segment will encourage participants to examine the many roles they currently fulfill, as well as strategies for focusing and coordinating their efforts with the other members of their “village” in order to achieve better outcomes for the exceptional students we all serve.

Presentation Outline:

I.          Introduction and discussion of issues: expectations, boundaries, and miscommunications

II.        Your Village Militia: Purpose and Roles

A.        What is the Modern Militia and what does it do?  Provide for the common defense, communication, search and rescue, disaster response, intelligence, coordinated response

B.        Lead Pilot/Lead Aircraft -- In charge of “the mission”, primary point of contact, final decision-making

C.        Wingman/Wingmen -- Provide protection for Lead Pilot, surveillance for mission, emergency assistance to Lead Pilot

D.        Special Forces -- Reconnaissance/intelligence gathering, training and development of personnel, support to counter-insurgency, rescue and recovery

III.       How the Militia concept applies to Helping Children with Special Needs: Tactics we can borrow

A.        What is the “mission”? Determining and obtaining FAPE for students with disabilities, supporting families in raising their children with exceptional needs

B.        Lead Pilot (Parents) -- Primary responsibility for decision-making, lifelong commitment to the child’s welfare and success

C.        Wingman/Wingmen (Teachers, Therapists, Direct Support) -- Provide additional perspectives on the child and his/her needs, support parents, serve as an “early warning system” protecting families

D.        Special Forces (IEE Providers, Consultants, Specialists)

1.  Reconnaissance/intelligence gathering (Intel) – records, different types of data and their utility, various experts

2.  Planning and organizing a coordinated response (Battle Plan)

IV.       Conclusion – Wrapping it All Up: setting boundaries, clarifying roles and responsibilities, identifying and accepting rescue

V.        Questions?

Learning Objectives: