Table 1 The educational components used in parent training “parents in action: blue hope”.
Group sessions of 120 min | Goals | References |
|---|---|---|
Session 1: Outline and program goals | Training program: contains the PT steps and aim, the content, duration, and goals of every session. | |
Session 2: What is autism? | Review of diagnostic labels to understand ASD: Causes and characteristics (how it affects the lives of people with ASD), sensory problems Tools: Posters, ppts, questions and answers, group discussion, videos. | (American Psychiatric Association (APA), 2013; Hodges et al., 2020) |
Session 3: Parent reaction to the diagnosis How to cope | Group Discussion: • Discuss impact of diagnosis on family members: • Identify coping strategies • Managing parental stress, grief • Supporting parents to discuss their reactions • Empowering and encouraging the positive perception of their child with ASD. Tools: Videos, Goal setting, Problem-solving, Storytelling. | (Treacy et al., 2005) |
Sessions 4: Verbal communication | • Identifying communication impairments • Improving social interaction and communication to help parents establish good practice • How to give clear instructions to their children Role-play with therapists, Goal setting, Problem-solving, and regular homework assignments. | |
Session 5: Non-verbal communication | ||
Session 6: Understanding and managing difficult behavior. Principles of positive behavior support | • Guide parents and to teach them on behavioral principles for reducing child impairments behavior, through identifying the purpose of behavior and applying anticipatory or consequence strategies to manage disruptive behavior. • How to focus on good behaviors Videos, group discussion, encourage asking questions, raise awareness, discuss feedback, Goal setting, Problem-solving, and regular homework assignments. | |
Session 7: Positive behavior support: changing behavior by manipulating consequences Encouraging new behaviors (prompting, shaping and chaining) | ||
Session 8: How to work and play with your child At home Out, in natural environment | • Discuss how to choose appropriate toys/activities Review how to encourage appropriate play • Symbolic play • Educative activities Videos, group discussion, encourage asking questions, raise awareness, role-play with therapists, and regular homework assignments. |
