In-Home Parent Training... Should I Go Public or Private?
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The In-Home Parent Training available through Aspie Friendly is also available through public school districts. While using a school district's services is a good option for some families of students with autism, others prefer to go private for In-Home Parent Training for a variety of reasons. (For more information about In-Home Parent Training, click here.) In addition to the increased flexibility private training affords, the quantity of district-approved sessions, may be a disappointment to parents, as the handful of sessions (while useful), doesn't always meet the needs of the student and family, in the way they hoped for.
In-Home Parent Training through the school district is not designed to be a comprehensive solution, to the comprehensive problems faced by the individual with autism. It is designed to support the school's efforts in meeting the current IEP goals for the student.
While private In-Home Parent Training is typically billed at an hourly rate, most find the rate to be cost-effective, and see the long-term solution as a good value, and a smart investment. For information from the National Institute of Mental Health, regarding their findings on autism and the benefits of parent-training, click here.
Below is a list of some other pros and cons for in-home parent training services through the students' school district, as well as through private contracting.
In-Home Parent Training through the school district is not designed to be a comprehensive solution, to the comprehensive problems faced by the individual with autism. It is designed to support the school's efforts in meeting the current IEP goals for the student.
While private In-Home Parent Training is typically billed at an hourly rate, most find the rate to be cost-effective, and see the long-term solution as a good value, and a smart investment. For information from the National Institute of Mental Health, regarding their findings on autism and the benefits of parent-training, click here.
Below is a list of some other pros and cons for in-home parent training services through the students' school district, as well as through private contracting.
Public ProsNo direct cost to student's family
Service quality meets district standards Formal evaluation and documentation District qualified personnel School maintains records of service | Private ProsImmediate scheduling of sessions
No session limitation Approval of services not an issue Parent approval of trainer prior to scheduling Flexible scheduling options Fresh ideas presented to student's school Non-district resource options Parent control over direction of training Trainer may be contracted by districts anyway Able to advocate on parents' behalf at ARDS Parents able to submit private paperwork at ARDs Private trainer not responsible to school administration for direction or restrictions |
Public ConsARD scheduling affects start date
ARD process required for multiple stages of the service approval process Trainers' qualifications unknown prior to evaluation session Possibility of denied services Budgeting affects decisions on services Quantity of sessions lower than expected Denial of services is not immediately relayed Availability of trainer affects scheduling Private schools not required to provide training Often no trainers maintained on-staff at district Contracted trainers support their priority clients | Private ConsNot free of charge
Formal paperwork not originated by school district Trainer may not have knowledge of student's school routine Parent contacts the trainer independently |
Utilizing District Services
Those who wish to explore the option of services through the school district may use the following handy checklist regarding the steps to follow. For a downloadable version of the following, click here.
___1. Contact your diagnostician* to request an ARD.
___2. ARD committee members will be contacted, and an ARD will be scheduled
___3. You'll be contacted with the ARD date/time, and required to submit notice of your intent to attend. Be sure to sign and return the notice to confirm the ARD meeting.
___4. At the ARD, you will formally request an evaluation and discuss in-home parent training services.
___5. After the ARD, the trainer will contact you to schedule the initial evaluation, to determine eligibility for the district-funded service.
___6. Another ARD will be scheduled, and a notice of ARD meeting sent to be signed and returned to the school.
___7. At the second ARD you will learn if your child meets eligibility criteria for services.
___8. If eligibility is not confirmed, services will not be provided.
___9. If confirmed, the number of approved sessions is communicated, and the trainer contacts the parents.
___10. A varying number of sessions, usually 2-4 sessions lasting between 30-90 minutes each, are scheduled as required.
___11. Sessions are executed, typically one per month or as availability permits, until exhausted.
___12. Sessions should include trainer paperwork documenting goals and progress over the sessions.
___13. Paperwork, whether approved and scheduled or denied, is retained in the student's school records.
It isn't unusual for the above process to begin in the fall (for instance), and be completed as the end of the school year approaches. Additionally, For some parents, the public school district timeframe and scope of service is satisfactory. Other parents prefer to pay an affordable rate, and begin sessions immediately, without being concerned with the possibility that services may be restrictive or even denied completely. The hourly rate for Aspie Friendly in-home parent training services is affordable at $45 an hour, and sessions can usually begin within days after Aspie Friendly is contacted. Sessions are designed in such a way that the cost of the training session is extremely cost-effective.
* While some Diagnosticians work at one school full time, it is not typically the case. Some Diagnosticians work part time, and others work at multiple schools. Please keep this in mind when anticipating a return call.
If you have questions, please call Aspie Friendly at 28l-7O6-O421. |  |
