Mentor
Beverly Fleisher
[email protected]
Mentee
Theresa Copley
Any children in the home?
{Do they have any children?:2:}
How is your family mentee doing?
The Copleys do not require mentoring on how to parent; rather, they would benefit from formal support systems that enable them to continue raising their children within the community.
What are their needs?
The Copleys have faced challenges as a result of the community's limited comprehension of typical behavior exhibited by some children with autism, as well as lengthy delays in accessing essential services.
What skills do they need to develop?
They are great parents. They don't need to develop better parenting skills. They need specific support on behavioral strategies for each of their children and the patience and perseverance to be consistent during the long challenge of raising children with autism. Frankly, being harassed for applying the skills they have learned reduces their resiliency as a family unit.
What changes are they trying to make?
The Copleys are willing to participate in any support services that address their children's real needs. They need to be trained in appropriate behavior modification for each of their children with autism as a behaviorist specializing in autism works with the children individually.
What concerns do you have?
I am concerned that CPS and law enforcement do not know anything about autism and view appropriate intervention as signs of child abuse rather than appropriate intervention. For children with autism, stability and routine are paramount. A cycle of removing and reuniting the children and their parents causes great harm. It also allows the older children to use the system against the parents; instead of doing what they are told to do, they can shut things down by threatening to report their parents to the case manager.
What community resources/classes would be most beneficial to them?
Moving forward, it is crucial for the Copley family to receive professional support. Specifically, Mikey would benefit from consultation with a behaviorist specializing in autism. Alongside direct therapy for Mikey, his parents can gain valuable strategies to help him avoid meltdowns. However, this will be a gradual process requiring patience and perseverance.
The school offers the possibility for the three younger children to receive extra assistance. I have made a formal request for the diagnostic evaluations, school evaluations, and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) of each child. I will then use this information to create new IEPs that address any deficiencies and offer comprehensive support for the children across all school settings.
What contacts would help in their particular situation?
{What contacts would help in their particular situation?:11}