Background
Research highlights the interconnection between caregiver stress and the behaviors associated with ASD. Family First tackles this by emphasizing mental health within ASD interventions, an often-overlooked but crucial aspect of care. The program also fills a significant gap in structured transition programs for ASD youth, encouraging independence and aiding parents.
Family First is not just a website; it's a promise to address the multifaceted challenges of autism through accessible, evidence-based educational modules and resources. The goal is to support families by providing the tools for increased self-efficacy, life skills development, and strategies for transitions. There is a dual focus on behavioral development in ASD youth and managing caregiver stress, factors that research identified as pivotal to the well-being of both the child and family.
Partnership with Sport Social
At the heart of Family First lies the spirit of collaboration. Evidence-based ideologies from occupational therapy and applied behavioral analysis come together to create a seamless support system. This team works interprofessionally, ensuring that the family's journey is cohesive, holistic, and above all, effective.
Collaborating with Sport Social, I engaged in a comprehensive needs assessment to inform my doctoral capstone. My mission was to complement their offerings with a program that addresses the unique challenges faced by these children and their families.
Through a series of detailed interviews with key stakeholders like Andrew Devitt we identified critical areas for enhancement. The desire for extended session times and a reduction in waitlists formed the basis of our discussion, leading us to the concept of home-based programs that complement Sport Social’s in-facility lessons. To this end, our collaborative effort sought to devise a program that integrated parent training with accessible and practical tools for daily life. This initiative aimed to ensure skill generalization beyond Sport Social's nurturing environment, and enabling continuous development and learning.
Another significant finding from our interviews was the necessity to support families facing mental health challenges. Key stakeholders underscored the importance of cognitive-behavioral therapy and family counseling in mitigating caregiver stress. Thus, we centered our program on not only enhancing the children's skills but also on supporting the mental and emotional well-being of the entire family unit.
Disclosure
As an OT student, I do not provide one-on-one therapy sessions, and there is no OT on site at Sport Social. All concepts and strategies within the field of OT are generalized and must be made available to everyone.
My work is independent and not officially associated with Sport Social or the specific Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatments they offer.
Some videos and materials may feature or reference Sport Social and ABA treatments. These are utilized strictly for educational purposes to illustrate concepts and strategies.
A media release form is required for all visual content used, ensuring compliance with privacy and consent regulations.
