Helping Families to become Empowered parents and Effective advocates

The Role of Early Intervention Providers

One of the most important outcomes in Early Intervention is how parents become empowered and effective advocates for their child. It is very common for parents to feel overwhelmed when their child has delays. Many parents come to us and now feel defeated and unheard. Parents know their children best. Sometimes however parents need some encouragement and coaching on just how to advocate for their child. As they become empowered as parents this process naturally evolves. As Early Intervention providers we are in the position to help parents through this process.

Growing Parent Confidence

The first step in this process is to show parents how much they really know about their kids. By helping parents to realize how much they actually know they can start to evolve into empowered parents. Oftentimes parents believe that all the providers that they encounter are the only people who really have any knowledge about how to help their child. Although there is truth in that thought, it is somewhat skewed. As providers we spend short periods of time with the family. Physicians and Therapists see children outside of their natural environment which also creates a bit of its own skewed view. Children are very different in their own environments. They look different to their parents and interactions with those they are familiar with. Coaching parents to articulate what their child does is where the power lies.

It often seems parents believe that they can not question the providers that service their children. They often feel they do not have the knowledge or understanding to ask questions. The opposite is actually true. Parents are very knowledgeable. They know how their child acts at home and in other environments. They know where their children struggle and where they thrive. If they are able to articulate to their providers exactly what those situations are they will start to shift to being empowered and advocating for their children. This also helps to provide more appropriate interventions to their children. They must feel as though they have knowledge and should be included in decision making by sharing that knowledge with those who help provide services to their children.

Our Obligation as Early On Providers

As providers, we have an obligation to our families to grow their capacity for empowered parenting and confident advocacy for their children. To hold to that obligation we should be asking questions of the families regarding their observations and knowledge. This will allow families to become more confident in how they discuss their observations. We should also take this opportunity for families to express their gut feelings and build them up as they share. Parents need coaching on what should and shouldn't be occurring when it comes to development. This is a way for providers to add to parental knowledge. In turn adding to their ability to advocate. Knowledge is power. This will help to embolden their confidence.

We need to do better as providers to include parents. We owe it to them and to their children. We are only with families for a short period of time. Helping parents to become empowered and confident advocates will last a lifetime!

If you are a parent, trust your gut! You know more than you think. Be open and honest with your provider so they can understand the struggles and together you can work together and grow!