Working with Families

A Conversation with Don Meyer

We speak with the creator of the "Sibshop" model

Topic: Working with Families
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

We speak with the award-winning director of the Sibling Support Project and creator of the Sibshop model.

Increasing Parental Involvement

from "The Best of YAI"

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Working with Families
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Suzanne and Margaret give tips on creative ways for making caregivers feel comfortable, safe, and connected to the school community.

Outside Adults Are Invaluable Assets

From "The Best of YAI" Newsletter

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Staff Training, Working with Families
Format: Newsletter
Population: All
Age Group: Early Childhood, School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Engaged, involved families can be an invaluable asset in an educational environment. To encourage parent participation, the YAI/NYL Roosevelt School has a unique open door policy. Download this article to learn how one school is using creative thinking, flexibility and humor to help a diverse group work smoothly together.

Parent Advocate Jeff Stimpson on The Big Pick Up

Expert Tips & Challenges

Topic: Children with Special Needs, Working with Families
Format: Tips and Challenges
Population: ASD
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

Parent Jeff Stimpson shares his experiences managing the big and the little clean ups with a child with autism.

Parent Advocate Jeff Stimpson on the Holidays

Expert Tips & Challenges

Topic: Working with Families
Format: Tips and Challenges
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

How do you make the most of holidays when you have a child with special needs? Jeff Stimpson describes the challenges of attending and hosting small and large family gatherings with a child with autism. He includes useful tips he's employed with his own family.

Rights & Responsibilities

A Refresher Course

Topic: Relationships and Sexuality, Staff Training, Working with Families
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: Adult
Levels of Disability: All

This annual refresher will spark discussion about the critical issue of how we help or hinder human rights in our daily contacts with people with disabilities. The training examines why it is so difficult to help the people we work with to actualize their rights, what may get in the way and many other thought provoking questions.

Siblings’ Unique Concerns and Opportunities

An Interview with Don Meyer

Topic: Working with Families
Format: Commentary, Tips and Challenges
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Siblings are often on the front lines of family support for people with developmental disabilities. Their experience and long term involvement is critical for coordination with service providers. However, siblings, like other caregivers, need encouragement and support to maintain healthy effective relationships. We speak with Don Meyer, an internationally renowned expert on sibling issues and creator of "SibShops."

The YAI Autism Center and discussion of challenges and new developments in Autism Spectrum Disorders

A Conversation with Charles Cartwright, M.D.

Topic: Working with Families, Children with Special Needs
Format: Video, Q&A
Population: ASD
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

Charles Cartwright, M.D., the Director of the Autism Center at the YAI Network shares with us some recent attitudes, developments and research surrounding ASD as well as some advice for parents and service providers.

Tips to Enhance Communication with Parents, Siblings & Other Family Members

Topic: Working with Families, Staff Training
Format: Handout/Review Sheet
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

This two-page handout/review sheet is a perfect tool to use at a staff meeting to spark discussion about working with families.

Vince Carbone: How can parents of autistic children facilitate their child's development?

Expert Q&A

Topic: Working with Families, Children with Special Needs
Format: Video
Population: Family Members, ASD
Age Group: School Age
Levels of Disability: All

We asked Dr. Vincent Carbone about the types of activities that parents of children with autism can use to facilitate their child\'s development.

Working with Families

What Makes it Challenging?

Topic: Working with Families, Staff Training
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

This training can help to build skills as well as understanding and empathy. Building strong family-professional collaboration is key to developing respectful relationships.

Working with Families

What Professionals Need to Know

Topic: Working with Families, Staff Training
Format: PowerPoint/Presentation
Population: All
Age Group: All
Levels of Disability: All

This interactive training gives staff the opportunity to take a "walk in the shoes" of the families for whom they provide services. The lesson highlights the unique challenges of raising a child with a disability which often include social isolation, additional fears for the child's well-being. and exhaustion from caregiving demands.