As you may know I was recently introduced to autism. (Read more about my story here. ) At first this is so over whelming! Where do you turn? Who do you see? How do you know if that is a good treatment or doctor. Recently the following information was shared with me. It was so very helpful that I asked to share with you! If you are looking for tips on where to start looking for Autism treatments then this is for you!

Finding Quality Services for Your Child with Autism/ Special Needs

by Connie Hammer, LMSW & PCI Certified Parent Coach

Accepting a diagnosis of autism for your child is a difficult pill to swallow* and finding the best treatment option, becomes a parent’s immediate focus and mission. When trying to find ‘the best’ services for your child with special needs, here are some suggestions to keep in mind:

*Buyer beware!* – Ask questions and get informed. Do as much research as
possible in order to become a sensible consumer and make the most
knowledgeable decision possible. Time may be of the essence but rushing
into a treatment may turn out to be a waste of your time in the long run

*Evaluate the resources you find*. – Look to see who is responsible for the
information and what qualifications the person or organization has. If it
is an internet site, determine who sponsors the site and assess for
credibility. Universities, medical schools, government or public agencies
and peer-reviewed journals tend to have the most objective sites.

*Ask for a testimonial*. – If a provider is not willing to put you in touch
with someone who can give you a testament to the effectiveness of the
services they received – think twice before you commit. If they do present
you with a person to contact, make sure they are not frauds being enticed
to give false positive reports. Asking many detailed questions that only a
recipient of the treatments would know is a good way to ferret out
imposters.

*Look for quality references*. – If you are reviewing a website, search for
links or other references to credible scientific organizations, books and
papers. If the site mentions other professionals, take the time to find
ways to contact them or connect with their own websites to get a feel for
the authority or standing they have as a professional within the autism
community.

Using caution and good sense is the best thing one can do when investing in
your own or your child’s well-being.

This is a guest post by Connie Hammer. As a parent educator and certified parent coach, Connie Hammer helps parents uncover abilities to change possibilities with her more than twenty years of experience working with families. A licensed social worker, she currently consults with and focuses on supporting parents of young children recently diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. For additional information contact her at connie@parentcoachingforautism.com or  visit http://www.parentcoachingforautism.com

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