Summer Parent and Grandparent Support Groups

Parent-Led Intervention May Reduce Autism Severity

Check out this new research on parent training and parent lead interventions.

We are currently providing the opportunity for a parent coaching scholarship.

Application and more information: http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/esdm

Parent-Led Intervention May Reduce Autism Severity

by Shaun Heasley 

For the first time, researchers say they have evidence that parent-led intervention for young kids with autism continues to yield gains several years later.

Children who participated in an intervention between the ages of 2 and 4 displayed less severe symptoms six years later, exhibiting fewer repetitive behaviors and better social communication, according to findings published this week in the journal The Lancet.

“Our findings are encouraging, as they represent an improvement in the core symptoms of autism previously thought very resistant to change,” said Jonathan Green of the University of Manchester and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital in England who led the study.

The findings come from a follow-up to what’s known as the Preschool Autism Communication Trial, or PACT, which was published in 2010.

For the trial, children with autism were randomly assigned to either participate in a 12-month early intervention program or simply receive standard care. All of the kids initially displayed similar levels of autism severity.

Parents of those in the intervention group participated in 18 sessions over the course of the year where they watched videos of themselves interacting with their child and got feedback from therapists so that they could understand how to better communicate. These moms and dads also agreed to spend 20 to 30 minutes each day engaged in planned communication and play with their child.

Six years after completing the initial study, researchers conducted new assessments of 59 children who received the parent-focused intervention and 62 kids who did not. They found that 17 percent fewer children in the intervention group had severe symptoms as compared to kids whose parents did not get the specialized training.

What’s more, researchers found that children in the treatment group communicated better with their parents even though assessments showed no difference in language scores between them and the other kids studied. However, both groups of youngsters continued to display comparable levels of anxiety, challenging behaviors and depression.

“This is not a ‘cure,’ in the sense that the children who demonstrated improvements will still show remaining symptoms to a variable extent, but it does suggest that working with parents to interact with their children in this way can lead to improvements in symptoms over the long-term,” Green said.

https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2016/10/26/parent-led-intervention-autism/22937/

Stepping Stones Triple P

We need to hear your voice!

If you live in Palm Beach County and are the parent or caregiver of children or adults with special needs, mental health issues or disabilities, we want to hear from you.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Help us create a model community where individuals with special needs and disability will be appropriately assisted and supported in least restrictive ways to maximize their full potential.

Opportunity to Have Your Voice Heard

If you live in Palm Beach County, we need your help to transform the landscape of services and supports for individuals with special needs/disability. Please share these links with all of your clients/constituents/employees/vendors. Just to clarify, there are 2 different surveys –

1. Parents or caregivers can describe their experiences in obtaining supports and services for a child or adult with special needs at http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey.

2. Individuals who have diagnosed with special needs/disability can share their personal experiences at http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Individuals-with-Special-Needs-Survey. It is possible for a parent, teacher, or interviewer to assist the individual with completing the survey.

This is an opportunity to have your voice heard!

Residents of Palm Beach County Speak

Residents of Palm Beach County who are challenged by special needs, disability and mental health challenges have an opportunity to tell what services and supports are working, what needs improvement, and what is lacking.  A Community Needs Assessment is currently taking place that covers nearly every aspect of living including education, healthcare access, housing, transportation, employment, and social/recreational opportunities.  Two surveys are available online: one survey assesses the needs from a parent/caregiver perspective, the second survey seeks to understand the viewpoint of individuals who have been diagnosed with a special need, disability and/or mental health issue.

The online surveys will be available through May 20, 2015 and can be accessed by visiting www.UnicornChildrensFoundation.org (http://www.unicornchildrensfoundation.org/) and clicking on the appropriate survey link on the home page under Palm Beach County Speaks.

This “first of its kind endeavor” was spearheaded by Unicorn Children’s Foundation, a leader in the field of neurodiversity, to build a community of support, acceptance and opportunity. Unicorn’s Executive Director, Sharon Alexander expresses, “We want to know how Palm Beach County measures up as a place to live for individuals with unique needs and the only way we can be sure to get a complete picture is by asking people who really know - the individuals, families, and providers who are in the trenches every day.”

This comprehensive assessment will provide a coalition of community agencies with a foundation for a community development program that will allow individuals with special needs and disabilities an opportunity to be meaningfully engaged and included throughout a broad range of community activities.  The following agencies have provided funding support for this assessment: Unicorn Children’s Foundation, Quantum Foundation, Federation of South Palm Beach County, Children’s Services Council, Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, Autism After 21, Autism Project of Palm Beach County, Els for Autism and United Way of Palm Beach County.

Nearly 12% of Palm Beach County residents have some form of disability according to the 2009-2013 American Community Survey and it is imperative that we hear the voices of those who are often underestimated, isolated, and unfulfilled.

Visit the www.UnicornChildrensFoundation.org or call 561.620.9377 for more information and to learn how you can get involved.

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Established in 1994, Unicorn Children’s Foundation provides leadership, education, and funding of innovative programs to ensure that individuals with neurodiversity are appropriately assisted, supported, and included in least restrictive ways to maximize their full potential.  According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, the increase in prevalence of neurodiversity presents communities with serious health and social challenges.  The latest statistics indicate that 1 of every 6 children is affected by a neurodevelopmental disorder, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and other learning disorders. For more information, please call (561) 620-9377 or visit www.UnicornChildrensFoundation.org.

http://www.prlog.org/12446339-residents-of-palm-beach-county-speak.html

We need to hear your voice, parents!

If you live in Palm Beach County and are the parent or caregiver of children or adults with special needs, mental health issues or disabilities, we want to hear from you.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Help us create a model community where individuals with special needs and disability will be appropriately assisted and supported in least restrictive ways to maximize their full potential.

Parents or Caregivers of Special Needs or Disabled Children and Adults in Palm Beach

We need to hear your voice!

If you live in Palm Beach County and are the parent or caregiver of children or adults with special needs, mental health issues or disabilities, we want to hear from you.

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

http://sgiz.mobi/s3/Parents-Caregivers-Survey

Help us create a model community where individuals with special needs and disability will be appropriately assisted and supported in least restrictive ways to maximize their full potential.

New Free Support Group starting in July!

And Then God Made a Parent

Mother's Day is right around the corner! And, Father's Day quickly follows! Check out Unicorn Children's Foundation's President, Dr. Rafael Cabrera with his family in the May/June issue of Boca Raton magazine - celebrating parenthood!