‘Making the most of lockdown’ is a phrase I have heard frequently over recent months. For each person who has said it to me, it has meant something different. For me, it meant having the opportunity to undertake a new training programme that I had been trying to find the time for, even if that meant my bedroom became a classroom and my classmates were scattered all over the world!
Interaction Method for Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (IMPACT) is a theory-based programme that enables parents to target the ‘building blocks’ of language and communication. Specifically designed for children aged 2-10 years with an autism diagnosis, it enables parent(s) as the primary communication partner(s) to support the extension of their child’s skills as part of their everyday routine. It is important to remember that communication is so much more than speech!
The supporting research that underpins IMPACT (or PACT for short) demonstrates that maximising the synchronicity of communication between the autistic child and their parent/carer maximises quality of life for the family as a whole.
Undertaking the trainee practice to achieve my accreditation during a global pandemic has been challenging. As someone more used to meeting families and fellow practitioners, I have found meeting people online feels less connected for me than it does in person, but everyone experiences the world in their own way. I just was never expecting my world to be like this. I will not be letting it prevent me from continuing my development as an Autism Practitioner, but I am looking forward to the time when the world looks more like I expected it to!
If you would like to know more about the therapeutic programme and find a practitioner in your area, full details can be found on the here.
In order to complete my accreditation, I am working to find appropriate ways of 'meeting' with parents - if you would like to know more, please contact me at info@valuingautism.com