Communication and Policy Change

It’s essential to have good listening skills and good nonverbal communication skills when leading individuals into policy change.  It’s good to be able to articulate speeches and write persuasive documents.  However, if the individual is not aware of what the audience feels or their response in the past to the situation then crucial elements may get left out of the policy.  It is often said that parents and educators that work with children the most know what they need.   In comparison, officials in high public offices do not have a clear of a view as they should of what individuals in the community may need due to their high offices.   I personally believe that being a good listener would encourage an individual trying to push a new policy for early intervention to identify what the parents and educators concerns may be.  Listening to the true issues of the people also shows a certain maturity and growth level.  The understanding often is that the individual that is higher in policy is open to paying attention to what the community and individuals are saying (Helpguide.org, n.d.).

Nonverbal communication is also a very essential communication tool.  When marketing programs are set into place policymakers must be able to read the nonverbal communication signs  of the individual to determine if the person is truly interested in supporting their efforts (Helpguide.org, n.d.).

The 7 C’s of communication are also very effective in aiding  policy makers  to determine what information to keep in any type of communication method and what information to  delete.  The 7C’s of communication can aid with writing the policy as well as communicating the content in the policy.  “According to the 7 Cs, communication needs to be clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous”(Mind Tools, n.d.).

I need to work on my own emotional awareness skills.  I often hold in my feelings regarding certain things due to not offending another person, not wanting to be confrontational and simply hoping the problem will go away.  This is not a healthy way to deal with my problems and could become an issue when addressing a major policy as well.  Its hard for me to deal with constant rejection.  However, I will have to learn to work on managing my challenging feelings in my personal life so that it will be easier in my professional life.  A problem that needs to be solved cannot be solved by an individual that is timid or afraid of the word “no.”  Everyone will not accept my suggestion for policy change and I will have to realize that everyone does not have the same vision (Helpguide.org, n.d.).

 

 

 

 

References

Helpguide.org. (n.d.). Effective communication. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/effective_communication_skills.htm Mind Tools. (n.d.). The 7 Cs of communication: A checklist for clear communication. Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm

 

Social Media and Policy Issues

 

 The first type of social media I would use to enforce my policy idea would be creating a facebook page.  Everyone can create a facebook page no matter how old or young they may be.  The facebook page also opens the door for communications to occur between individuals’ that may have some personal concerns or questions and simply invoice the individual involved.   I would also use facebook because it reaches so many different people all over the world, its nationwide,  and is almost as large as its  own country (Auer, 2011).

I would also use youtube videos as a means to communicate my policy issue.  I would use youtube due to the benefit of having visuals to help parents understand exactly what is going on with their child.  The videos would also be engaging and interesting to other individuals that do not have children  but may have seen a child with similar signs/symptoms.    My focus topic emphasizes the importance of early intervention and I believe if parents are able to actually see how “Autism” manifests the red flags may go up a lot sooner than later and they may start to ask more questions.  The video will simply open the door to determine what may or may not be happening. (Auer, 2011).

The audience I would mainly focus on getting involved would be the parents, teachers and physicians.  They are the ones I would focus on due to their significant involvement in the first year of the childs’ life and how much they are around the child. I would also focus on the three groups to expand their knowledge on the specific topic of autism.

There are multiple benefits to using social media.  In fact, the benefits are evident in areas where laws have been changed as a result of individuals sharing their opinions.  One benefit of social media is the option to gain a worldwide viewpoint from individuals’ all over the world concerning different topics.  A second benefit is how strongly the friends in an individuals’ social network stay together and in contact with one another.  Last, but not least individuals’ are not afraid to be completely honest with their thoughts and opinions.  Not as many people choose to remain anonymous but are open to share with others that they are the ones that shared a particular message (Hong, June, Sung-Min, 2011).

One challenge to using social media is the presence of so many different types of advertisements and advice groups online.  It’s hard to tell who is an expert or who has ever  really tried anything.  Another drawback to social media is the added pressure it puts on the government to make decisions.  Some pressure may be good, but when a major issue is involved it is not good to rush thorough decision making. Last, but not least social media can spread false information related to politics or any issue in the world very quickly.  This is an issue due to the fact that most social media is the opinion of an individual and not a collective group.  Often an individual starts to add fuel to a fire and sometimes the fire can get out of control (Hung et al 2011).

 

Social media is everywhere.  If a policy issue is addressed in this century it is almost inevitable that social media will have to be used in some form or fashion. 

 

References

Auer, M. R. (2011). The policy sciences of social media. Policy Studies Journal, 39(4), 709–736.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

June, P., Hong, C., & Sung-Min, P. (2011). Social media's impact on policy making. SERI Quarterly, 4(4), 125–129.

 

 

Semester Goals

Hello again everyone,

It's a new semester with lots of new and wonderful things to learn.  I look forward to learning more about policies and systems in place for the early childhood field.  These are my goals for this present course.

1.       Gain a clearer understanding of the 5 C’s (Coverage, Clinical Care, Coordination, Consultation, Community Health) and how they relate to my major assessment topic and other issues that I face in the field of early childhood/speech pathology.

 

It is important to have a clear understanding of the 5 C’s so that I can a better understanding of the child and the family dynamic as well as the childs’ general well-being.  If the child is sick all the time then their progress may be impeded.  However, if they have the right advocates that are providing the necessary referrals then the child can get the help that he/she needs and then move on to getting the larger problems and needs taken care of.  With a focus on early intervention knowing and having a background history of this information is very vital to taking steps to help the child (Kagan & Kauerz, 2012).

 

2.       Formulate a clearer, more specific idea/plan of what I can presently do in my community and at the local level to strengthen the special needs/early intervention component of the early childhood system

 

It is important for me to formulate a specific plan so that I can understand the depth of the issues and problems in my community.  I must also formulate a plan so that I will be forced to look at programs from the bottom up and determine what foundational issues may be causing problems.  I must gain a deeper understanding versus a surface knowledge of what is going on. By focusing on the community I will be helping   those individuals’ that have a very large influence on the children in different neighborhoods thus impacting the early childhood system (Kagan & Kauerz, 2012).

 

 

3.       Find as many systems and policies in place that support my topic for the major assessment in varying specialties (psychology, science, education, language, health) and determine Evidence Based Practice for what has worked and what has not worked. 

 

This is an essential step because I must know what has already been researched in my topic area, what has worked, what is in place and what is not in place so I can determine where I need to concentrate the majority of my efforts.  If I don’t know what is already in place I may duplicate a program that has already been tried or try a strategy that may not work in a specific community due to the majority population.  I must also understand the policies in place for early childhood so that I can have a starting point for developing my own policies.  I must evaluate the systems and policies in place to help me formulate a system/policy for my major assessment topic (Kagan & Kauerz, 2012).

References

Kagan, S. L., & Kauerz, K. (Eds.). (2012). Early childhood systems: Transforming early

learning. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Videos on early signs of autism

Hi everyone,

Here is a great video to watch comparing and contrasting the differences between early signs of children with autism versus children without autism.  The videos have voice-over's where
Dr. Landa, the director of the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism and Related Disorders is specifically explaining what is occurring. The video is very eye-opening and I invite you to share it with anyone who has questions about their child/another child and autism. The link is listed below

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/2031455/video-this-is-what-autism-looks-like-in-toddlers/

Class Reflections

This entire class has been so very enlightening to me. I have learned new information, examined my own biases and weaknesses and learned about ways to enhance relationships with families and children from different cultures. I connected the most with the book, Anti-bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. This book is going to be a guidebook for me in the future. I have learned how to avoid embarrassing situations and how to appropriately approach individuals that are different from me.  I also appreciate the content of the book because it helps explain what I should do to eliminate biases with my students as well. I learned that there are many ways to adjust situations so that the children and others in the environment can learn as much and to re-shape negative situations and behaviors into positive life lessons (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

The information I found somewhat disturbing and surprising was the way in which the US doctors interacted and communicated with the Lee family in, The spirit catches you and you fall down.  The progression of the whole story was very sad and made me realize how ignorant we often are to the beliefs and customs of other cultures. I believe in Western civilization all we know is what we have been exposed to therefore we look at other cultures as if their ways are ridiculous. This was the view of many of the professionals that worked with the Lee's. Sadly, it shouldn't be like that and this book showed me how dangerous having opinions such as those could be (Fadiman, 2012).

The information I learned about autism and early intervention really inspired me to work even more diligently to provide more knowledge to individuals. I was also inspired because of the evident need for more longitudinal research in the field of autism. The more I researched the more I found that parents had to fight to help their children without a wealth of resources available to them. I did not understand or know that parents had limited help as their children became older until I was going through multiple articles and studies. The results were disturbing.

The information I found is vital to me as an early childhood professional because I consistently work with this population. I now know more specific things I need to do when working with the autistic population. I know how vital it is for me to encourage parents to take advantage of early intervention as soon as possible as well as multiple organizations they can visit for more resources.  Last, but not least I now know that every parent is at a different stage of resilience and I must approach each situation with different suggestions, statements, and resources.

References
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves.

Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Fadiman, A. (2012). The spirit catches you and you fall down: A Hmong child, her American doctors, and

the collision of two cultures. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

The interview Process

The interview process has always been very enlightening to me.  I enjoy learning from individuals that have been working with a particular population longer than I have as well as hearing their suggestions of resources to learn additional information.  The interview process is also very motivating to me as a well because I am able to collaborate with individuals that have experienced similar situations to myself as well as hear stories of success.  Lastly, the interview process is a learning tool for me to expand on the knowledge I know and be able to share my knowledge with other colleagues and parents. 

My 2 largest challenges with the interview process were coming up with interview questions that would encompass a breadth of knowledge and information.  There were some questions that I asked that gave me a lot of information but to expand on the questions would have taken hours and hours.  I felt as if I just wanted to keep hearing and learning more and more.  My other challenge was getting together with both of my interviewees.  I wanted to find individuals that were very knowledgeable about my topic.  However, the individuals that I knew were already very busy and involved working diligently to support the population of children with autism.  I loved the fact that they were so actively involved in the autism support process, but it simply made it a little more challenging to schedule times to talk or complete the interview.  Overall, the interview process worked very well and I was very pleased with the thoroughness of the responses given to me by the individuals I interviewed.

One interviewee expressed that “In working with children with autism, the greatest challenges have often been related to finding “a way in”, so to speak.  Because of the difficulties with socialization usually found in this population, finding ways to connect on that child’s terms are both challenging and rewarding”(Personal Communication, 2013).  This statement is very powerful and very true.  In my professional experience I have found that every child with autism is different and what works for one child may or may not work for another child.  As a result, I have to constantly find creative ways to engage the child, get the child to participate in therapy, and get the child to communicate his /her wants and needs.  Many children with autism have challenges with expressing their likes/dislikes and wants/needs so the challenge of finding “a way in” may take awhile.  I have found that some children benefit from sensory activities before starting the therapy session (ex. Jumping on trampoline, swinging) while other children will work diligently for a chance to roll a large ball or squeeze playdough back and forth on the table. Every child is different but once you find “a way in” it’s almost as if a lightbulb goes off and the child starts responding more in therapy.

My research on the topic of autism and early diagnosis and intervention of parents and professionals has been very rewarding thus far.  I have learned a lot from the research articles I’ve been reading.  I have learned that;

-Parents need continual support beyond early intervention and they are burdened by the strain of not finding adequate resources and serving as the primary case manager in most situations.   

-Parents can lean on grandparents for support and possibly involve them in important meetings related to the child so they can assist in relieving some of the burdens off of the parents.
-
Support is needed from the community, parents, social groups and others in case enough government funding is not available.

-We should update and communicate with individuals in our communities about what our children with autism need as well as use students to aid social interactions of children with autism

-Both parents are affected by the diagnosis of autism (emotionally, psychologically, physically) and some families are more resilient due to a strong familial support system.

There is a wealth of information available related to the topic of autism.  However, more longitudinal research is needed.  What kinds of coping techniques have you noticed with different families of children with autism?  What reasons have you found for some families being more resilient than others?

References

Bernstein, R., Brigham, N., Cosgriff, J., Harvey, M. Heilingoetter, J., Hughes, C., & Reilly, C. (2013). A peer delivered social interaction intervention for high school students with autism. Research & Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 38(1), 1-16.

Brown, H.K., Quellette-Kuntz, H., Hunter, D., Kelley, E., & Cobigo, V.(2012). Unmet Needs of Families of School-Aged Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25(6), 497-508. Doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2012.00692.x

 Carter, A.S., & Davis, N.O. (2008). Parenting stress in mothers and fathers of toddlers with autism Spectrum disorders: Associations with child characteristics. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(7), 1278-91

Hoogsteen, L.& Woodgate, R. (2013). The lived experience of parenting a child with autism in a rural area: Making the invisible,visible. Pediatric Nursing, 39(1), 233-237.

Parish, S. L., Thomas, K. C., Rose, R., Kilany, M., & Shattuck, P. T. (2012). State medicaid spending and financial burden of families raising children with autism. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 50(6), 441-51.

Sullivan, A., Winograd, G., Verkuilen, J., & Fish, M. C. (2012). Children on the Autism
Spectrum: Grandmother Involvement and Family Functioning. Journal Of Applied
Research In Intellectual Disabilities, 25(5), 484-494.

Sorry! Here are the 36 autism facebook pages

Bloggers,

The friendship circle blog has listed 36 different facebook pages packed with resources for children with autism.  The facebook pages vary based on gender, concentration, location and focus topic.  I hope you enjoy checking out these pages and learning as much new information as I did!

According to Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange (OTX), Americans spend over 3 hours on social media everyday. Most of this time is used catching up with friends, sharing funny videos, and reading up on current events. However, social media can also provide a great support community, especially for parents of individuals with special needs and the individuals themselves. Imagine a safe place where you can share personal stories, get advice for behavioral issues, and maybe find a bit of inspiration or a glimmer of hope when you are having a rough day. Who better to talk to than someone going through the same struggles and triumphs as yourself.
We have compiled a list of some great Facebook pages that deal directly with ASD. From support to news to encouraging messages, these pages will provide you with the latest topics in the Autism community. Please share your favorite ASD Facebook pages in the comments below.

1. Asperger Experts 

Danny & Hayden, both diagnosed with Aspergers, help people affected by Aspergers to understand themselves & the top success strategies in the world, so that they can change their behavior, thinking, and ultimately live the life they want to, not the life that they are limited to.

2. Asperger’s Support Network 

Asperger’s Support Network provides a platform for those living with Aspergers to share their experiences. Awareness is needed. Awareness breeds better understanding. Join in the discussions, post questions, and share your stories.

3. Asperger Women’sAssociation 

AWA’s mission is to offer Education and support to Autistic and Asperger Women, children, and Seniors, and parents/caregivers across the globe. “The greatest source of support and guidance for women who have Asperger’s syndrome or an Autism Spectrum Disorder is not from clinicians or the research literature, but from each other.”

4. Asperger’s Awareness Community

The main purpose of the page is for those who live with Aspergers to share their experiences and offer answers, advice and support to those who need it.   The main source of information comes from the wonderful members of this page. However, it is very important to remember that every single person is different. Individuality is greatly respected here.

5. Asperger’s Syndrome Awareness Worldwide

Autism is a serious, lifelong and disabling condition. Without the right support it can have a profound, sometimes devastating, effect on individuals and families. This site aims to provide a link to all people with Asperger’s around the world.

6. Autism Alliance of Michigan 

Autism Alliance of Michigan is a source for comprehensive information about autism events, news, research, and much more in Michigan. The facebook page focuses on current events all over the world, news stories, and personal triumphs.

7. Autism and Special Needs Resources

This page discusses ‘autism’ the good, the bad and the ugly; revealing truths that autism presents. Bright Tots’ postings are uplifting in general but this page is not just on glorifying autism. There are people who are going to have problems & be closed minded, when in actuality, demonstrating true respect for individuals with autism requires one to be conscious & aware of the entire autism spectrum. The perception, confusion, & ignorance surrounding autism are equal to, if not more problematic than, autism itself.

8. Autism Awareness 

The Autism Awareness page is here to do 1 thing: Spread Autism Awareness! Through the sharing of information, news & resources, we hope to empower our fans with more knowledge and the ability to help spread Autism Awareness to their friends and families. Together, we can solve the Autism Puzzle!

9. Autism Beacon 

A one-stop source for parents, caregivers, service providers, professionals, advocates and family members of people with Autism to learn, share and access vital resources around the corner and around the world.

10 Autism Daddy

All people are welcome on this page regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs. And you are welcome here if your kid is low functioning, high functioning, aspergers, etc. But always remember the place where I am coming from. Severe, low functioning, non-verbal autism. Just remember this. I have an 8 year old son whose receptive & expressive language are at an 18 month old level and they have been for years. So that’s the autism that I am writing about.

11. Autism Discussion Page

This page was developed by Bill Nason, MS, LLP to discuss tools that help children on the spectrum feel safe, accepted and competent. Although each child is different, with their unique strengths and challenges, there are some common strategies that can strengthen the social, emotion, and cognitive security for most children on the spectrum.

12. Autism Internet Modules (AIM)

The Autism Internet Modules were developed with one aim in mind: to make comprehensive, up-to-date, and usable information on autism accessible and applicable to educators, other professionals, and families who support individuals with ASD.

13. Autism Makes Me Laugh

When you have a child with autism life can be stressful, isolating, scary, last-straw x1000, I’m-running-away-from-home difficult. It can also be hilarious, rewarding, never-a-dull-moment, joyous, intriguing, laugh-out-loud-funny. And THAT is what this website is all about.

14. Autism Mothers 

A safe space for mothers of children with Autism to share their stories, ask for advice, and provide inspiration for each other. By finding common ground here, it can help provide strength and hope for the future.

15. Autism on the Seas 

Autism on the Seas organizes and staffs cruises for families with special needs. They are dedicated to serving the vacation needs of families and individuals with Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, and all cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as (but not limited to) Cerebral Palsy and Down’s syndrome.

16. Autism Research Institute 

ARI has convened meetings since 1995, for physicians, researchers, and parents committed to finding effective treatments for autism (formerly known as Defeat Autism Now! Conferences). Parents and clinicians who do not regard psychotropic drugs as the best or only means of treating autism welcome this chance to learn effective strategies from informed professionals, for addressing the health issues often associated with autism.

17. Autism Shines 

Upload your photo of someone you love with autism, or yourself, and caption it with something great about them. Help us show the world all the positive attributes of autism! Please be aware that this is a public page.

18. The Autism Society of America

 
The Autism Society is the leading voice and resource of the entire autism community in education, advocacy, services, research and support. The Autism Society is committed to meaningful participation and self-determination in all aspects of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families

19. Autism Sparks 

Autism Sparks offers information, ideas and resources to help you connect with your child using a discussion forum moderated by Autism professionals. Every month there is a different focus topic.

20. Autism Speaks 

Autism Speaks aims to bring the autism community together as one strong voice to urge the government and private sector to listen to our concerns and take action to address this urgent global health crisis. It is our firm belief that, working together, we will find the missing pieces of the puzzle.

21. Autism Spectrum Disorder: Through My Eyes 

If Autism has touched your life in any way, shape or form then this is a site for you. It will provide you with daily inspiration, relatable stories, and maybe even a laugh or two.

22. Autism: Spectrum Support 

Welcome to CafeMom’s support community for parents of kids on the Autism Spectrum. Here you will mainly find recent news topics relating to Autism and people sharing their thoughts and stories.

23. Autism Support Network 

Autism Support Network provides a free peer-to-peer global network of people helping people with autism. Our support community, which is free for anyone to join, is intended to further reduce the need to “reinvent the wheel” and collectively pool global knowledge and support from all those touched by ASD wherever they might live.

24. Autism Understanding and Acceptance

To upgrade Autism Awareness to a more complete Understanding and Acceptance. To ensure that people aren’t just aware of Autism, but that they know what it really is.

25. Autism United 

Autism United is dedicated to raising Autism Awareness world wide. They work to help educate and bring information, research and specialist studies to one location giving you a highly researched, resourceful website for your Autism Awareness needs.

26. Autism Women’s Network 

Autism Women’s Network is dedicated to building a community of Autistic women of all ages, their families, friends, and supporters. It offers a place where all can share their experiences among a diverse, inclusive supportive and productive environment.

27. Autism: Different Not Less 

A page dedicated to sharing love with those who are affected by Autism. It is a place to share stories, show support, and express joy in the Autism community. It is a space where everyone can understand and learn from each other.

28. Birdhouse for Autism 

Birdhouse for Autism is a safe and secure care management platform for families raising children with Autism. Their Facebook page provides advice, support, and inspiration.

29. Dogs for Autism 

Dogs for Autism provides great news articles, especially relevant to pet therapy and other animals. It is an excellent place to find support for general Autism and support animals.

30. Girls and Autism: Parenting Girls on the Autism Spectrum

Connected with a book of the same name, this page explores a topic of concern, offering encouragement and guidance on common issues such as school, friendships, meltdowns, special gifts, family relationships, therapies and interventions. Having daughters on the spectrum presents unique and rewarding challenges and this book is packed with friendly advice and real life examples from a mother who has experienced it all first hand.

31. My Autism Network 

My Autism Network is a group of individuals dedicated to increasing the awareness of Autism and Asperger Syndrome. The goal is to inspire those impacted by Autism spectrum disorders to have a network to share common stories, ideas and information.

32. National Autism Association 

The mission of the National Autism Association is to respond to the most urgent needs of the autism community, providing real help and hope so that all affected can reach their full potential.

33. Parenting with Asperger’s Syndrome

This page is run by parents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder parenting children with and without ASD. No topic is off limits for this page and all questions, stories, news articles are welcomed by the community. This page will hit on every age group and deal with issues faced by both males and females. All have something to learn from this page.

34. Schrader Autism Foundation 

This page run by an International Non-Profit  aims to provide financial subsidy to public/private institutions that provide autism services and programs to children/adults having Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs); To more effectively prepare ASD Children for independent life in today’s society through education. This Facebook page contributes by providing news stories, information, and some inspiration.

35. World Autism Awareness Day 

By bringing together autism organizations all around the world, we will give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. Please join us in our effort to make this possible.

36. And of Course Friendship Circle of Michigan

The Friendship Circle provides assistance and support to the families of children with special needs as well as to individuals and  families struggling with addiction, isolation, and other crises. The Facebook page provides inspirational photos from programs, pertinent news articles, and trending posts from the Friendship Circle Resource Blog.