FUNDAMENTAL USERS
parents
What makes a good therapeutic center for parents? • • • • •
Covered drop-off zone Welcoming entrance & reception Comfortable waiting room Easily accessible conference areas Happy students who want to go to school
What we should know about parents of AERO students? • • • • • • • •
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Education of parents about the student’s condition, researching effective treatments and care. Parents often need to cope with higher emotional and physical demands. Parents often lead discussions on interventions, accommodations and placements. Parents often have financial issues due to the cost of healthcare and treatment. Parents often are under great stress due to the demands of their daily life and the care. Parents often harbor guilt due to the stress of wondering if they are doing enough or if they are getting the best care for their children. Isolation is a big concern for parents as often they do not have normal socialization patterns due to life demands or fear of criticism nor judgement from others. Parents often have grief over missing what they had in their minds as the ideal parenting moments they feel they are missing and loss of hopes for their children.
Fundamental Users
• • • • • • • •
Support groups and parental interaction with others who have similar challenges has been proven beneficial, build a community. About 40% of Parents of students with ADHD have ADHD themselves. Screening for parental symptoms has been proven to be helpful to increase children therapy outcomes. Mothers often have to be treated for depression more than ADHD. Autism is often hereditary – passed down from fathers. This often leads to guilt and detachment thus increasing the burden on mothers. Sometimes parents do not know they are a carrier of a mutation, this often results in guilt. Self-care and support are critical for parents. Parents need to identify their limitations and specify their abilities as part of the care model to allow for greater intervention effectiveness.
Figure 20