Children with autism and other developmental disabilities benefit greatly from specialized interventions and parent training to support those interventions (National Autism Center, 2015). The training is individualized to the parents’ specific needs and takes two forms:
Discussion-based Training
In this type of training, information on a particular topic is presented by the instructor who facilitates discussion with questions and solicited feedback from the parent. The training can be in-person or remote using the ZOOM video meeting platform. The individualized nature of this training allows for each of the concepts presented to be customized to the specific needs of the family which facilitates understanding and increases the training’s value for the family.
Milestones Family Services provides a comprehensive set of twenty discussion-based training sessions supporting not only the instructional programs used within its clinic and educational programs but also broader issues related to special education and mental health:
- Milestones from the Start (sessions 1-10)
- Milestones Next Steps (sessions 11-20)
Hands-on Training
In this type of training, parents have the opportunity to apply the skills they have learned in discussion-based training to actual instructional situations with their child. Together with a registered behavior technician/licensed and/or a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) the parent is encouraged to work with their child, employ specialized instructional techniques, and receive real-time expert feedback.
This training typically occurs once per week over several weeks but can also be provided in a customized, accelerated format depending upon the needs of the family and clinic staff availability.