Anna (a pseudonym used to protect client confidentiality) is a bright five-year-old girl with autism. She entered therapy with significant communication and behavioural challenges. She was non-verbal, did not respond to her name, was still in diapers, prone to tantrums, had little interest in her peers, and resisted all attempts to guide her.
Her mother, desperate for options, decided to try a carer-mediated, virtual applied behavioural analysis (ABA) therapy approach where she would be trained how to support her daughter’s needs and progress. Over the course of six months, through weekly telehealth sessions and supportive carer guidance that educated mom on how to teach Anna skills through typical parent-child interactions, Anna learned to verbalise single words, use the toilet independently, and even play with friends. While there is still much work ahead for Anna and her mother, these remarkable gains in such a short timespan are largely due to her mother’s willingness to participate in carer training and apply what she learned during day-to-day routines.
It makes sense. Therapists, at most, see kids a couple of times per week, often in clinical settings. Parents are with their children 24/7 and live on the front lines of their struggles with basic skills and communication. There is no one better attuned or suited to help their kids reach important developmental milestones. For those interested in carer training, here are a few considerations and useful questions to ask.
The case for parent training
A 2022 Brigham Young University study of 2,895 children published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders noted that children of parents who provide interventions at home “saw marked improvement in social skills as well as language and communication skills.” On average, the parents in these studies received about 90 minutes of training each week.
That return on investment becomes even more compelling and logical when you consider the rapid rise in autism diagnosis rates. New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that one in every 31 children will be diagnosed with some form of autism today. That’s up from one in every 36 just a couple of years ago.
This growth in cases comes at a time when, despite the increase in the number of professionals trained to deliver ABA therapy, demand far outweighs supply. It’s why many families have to wait up to nine months, sometimes more than a year, for their first appointments. Even once families begin treatment, those that utilise in-person clinics normally have to commit to dozens of hours of therapy per week and oftentimes have to make long drives at inconvenient hours to meet with therapists in centralised locations.
Choosing the right carer training
In response to this broader shortage in therapeutic services, carer training presents a powerful opportunity to extend the reach of therapy, enhance its effectiveness, and help children progress more efficiently. For families thinking about carer training, there are a few important factors to weigh.
To begin, carers can opt for either in-person or virtual training. For parents who thrive in hands-on, face-to-face learning environments, a physical clinic setting might be the ideal choice. Alternatively, families looking for greater flexibility or who are pressed for time may find virtual sessions more convenient. One advantage of online training is that it happens at home; allowing parents to learn and apply strategies in the actual setting where they’ll use them, all while still receiving expert guidance.
Another variable is the type of training. Depending on the child, some families may opt for a more focused, goal-oriented approach to address one specific skill or area of need, such as toilet training. Alternatively, parents that seek to improve multiple developmental areas at once (like social skills, behaviour, and communication) are able to pursue a more all-encompassing training plan.
Additionally, carers have the option to involve siblings or other household members in the process. This could be something simple, like a sibling writing a story to help their brother or sister with autism feel understood, or more involved participation; like being taught how to help a sibling with play-based activities such as rolling a ball.
Smart questions for carers to ask
Even after deciding on the format and focus of carer training, it’s natural for parents to feel unsure of how to dive in. One of the best ways to build confidence and improve outcomes is by asking thoughtful questions. Doing so helps carers feel equipped to apply new techniques independently, outside of structured sessions.
Here are several useful questions we’ve seen parents ask to spark conversation with their therapists and reinforce important skills. Keep these in your back pocket to foster more productive and empowering interactions.
- Can you explain the rationale behind why you did (insert behaviour/situation)?
- When (insert behaviour) happens, how should I respond at home?
- What’s working well in our sessions, and what areas should we focus on more?
- Can you share more details about how ABA works and why it’s effective?
- What’s one simple strategy I can try this week that might make a difference?
- Are there any books, videos, or other resources you recommend for learning about (insert topic)?
The evolving role of carer training in autism support
As public understanding of autism grows and more families seek assistance, carer training will continue to prove to be a cornerstone of effective treatment plans. This collaborative, team-based model offers a promising way to improve outcomes and give children with autism (and their loved ones) more tools for long-term success.
Jeff Beck is founder and CEO of AnswersNow.