Once you have an appropriate assessment and a well-trained therapist in place, you can take a deep breath -- but you can't rest on your laurels. The most important aspect of any therapeutic program is progress, and it's up to the parent to be sure that appropriate progress is being made.
To stay on top of your child's program, you may need to continue to observe therapy sessions from time to time. Watch to be sure your child is having a positive experience and receiving good emotional engagement. Ask yourself, as you watch your therapist working with your child:
- Is this an appropriate task?
- Is the instruction appropriate?
- Is the child really coming in contact with enough reinforcement?
According to Partington, often the plan is right, but the teacher doesn't know how to motivate your child. When that's the case, the parent can have a tremendous positive impact by serving as a consultant to the therapist. No one knows your child as well as you do, so you may be able to offer invaluable information about what really motivates your child.
