Training for Parents & Caregivers of Children With Autism
JoyBridge Kids focuses heavily on the importance and value of intentional parent support. We provide parents and caregivers with education and support to help them gain valuable skills in helping their children succeed throughout their daily lives. This is a vital and foundational part of our services. Parent support/training is based on each family’s unique culture, situation, and priorities of need.
A key element of Parent & Caregiver Training is helping parents learn how to utilize basic Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy methods at home, so that efforts are consistent across environments. We believe that parents, family members, and siblings play a significant role in teaching developmentally appropriate skills throughout naturally occurring family routines (i.e. breakfast or bedtime). BCBA’s provide parent training sessions on a bi-weekly basis (minimum) that focus on parent priorities, including setting up and implementing routine-based interventions (i.e. structured tantrum-free bedtimes!), decreasing maladaptive behaviors (i.e. aggression), implementing toilet training, teaching communication, and setting up family community outings for success. JoyBridge Kids utilizes several parent training curriculums that are individualized based on family needs, and concepts that are taught throughout Behavioral Skills Training (BST) to ensure family members can effectively implement those strategies in the home environment.
Having supportive family members and friends who consistently use the strategies of ABA can catalyze significant growth! Parents who are eager to learn from these techniques are vitally important for maximizing a child’s outcome. JoyBridge Kids families are expected to participate in caregiver training with their child’s BCBA, and will also be encouraged to observe and participate in ABA, SLP, and OT sessions with their child’s core team of staff.