Autism Annual Reviews
It's a Joint Approach
It is tough having your own development and progress analysed and dissected.
It is a hell of a lot harder when it is about your child.
I have been to many annual development reviews for my son. Unfortunately some I walked into happy and confident, but left in tears, with a sick feeling in my gut and emotions that took months to heal from.
However, in the last few years, I have left feeling empowered and motivated to strive forwards toward new targets and goals.
Annual reviews, for special needs children, vary extremely, and unfortunately, it is down to the people who support your child, and their ability to communicate and collaborate together towards a common goal.
For Rhys, we are always honest. We sit down as parents before every review and we discuss the truth – nothing sugar-coated or missed, everything factual. We discuss what we want Rhys to work on, where we are not seeing progress and where we need help as parents.
Then we send the black and white text to the school, our submission for review.
Reviews are tough, they highlight the struggles, and they are the formal way of showing how far your child is behind their peers. But they also shine a light on the achievements and goals they have met over the year, and whatever we need to do to get more of those moments, is what we strive for.
Every review we focus on Rhys and what he needs, or how we can work with the school to smash new targets.
We are lucky.
We have a great school setting and support for him, where school and home can blend into one. Where his teachers know all about his family and out-of-school activities, and we can work with the school to jointly focus on the same elements.
But it has not always been that way. I have left previous reviews and meetings feeling the need to throw up in the school gutter, like a cheap drunk who can’t handle their emotional booze!
It took time and setbacks to find the right setting for Rhys. The support we get now was not handed to us on a plate, it was fought for and as a result of fighting and tough emotions, we found our way.
The annual review is there for parents, teachers, and professionals to ensure the best for their child and their needs. If your child is not central to those discussions or you as the parent are not getting what you feel is in the best interests of your child, you are part of that review and have an equal say in changing that.
Make sure you fight for your child. Prepare yourself for the review. Focus on your child’s needs and how you can all work together to achieve them.
Weekly Poll
Video of the Week
All parents work at developing their children toward becoming independent human beings, but for parents of children with additional needs, there is a lot more work to be done. Watch below to learn the tips to help your child dress themselves, a method that uses the First/Next, Schedules, and Backward Chaining strategies.
Top Posts of the Week
Facebook: The pajama battle that shows amazing development. See post here.
Facebook: Last week I was interviewed for a segment on Sports Wales. Hopefully we will see it next week. Read more here.
Instagram: “Rhys stroke Albus. Ready, Steady, Go”. See how we are moving forward on the bond with our Golden Retriever. See post here.
Coming Up Next Week
We are off to the Cardiff Park Lights, which is a kilometer and a half of amazing light displays and projections. The event for us could go one of two ways, but we will not know unless we try. Follow on social media to see how it goes, and if it doesn’t go to plan, that’s ok, at least we all tried.
