Communication Consulting for Caregivers
Bridging the communication gap between school, home, and community programs
Building Communication Skills at Home
Communication tools like iPads and other technology are a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to empowering your loved one with disabilities, but finding time to apply skills learned at school can be challenging, especially with no clear plan to follow.
We’re on a mission to bridge that gap between communication tools and skills taught in schools and community programs and what’s practiced at home with our Family Communication Empowerment Program.
Transform Your Family’s Communication With Our Hands-On Program
The Family Communication Empowerment Program offered through Focus on Freedom helps to introduce you to communication tools and get you engaged in the process so you can better support your loved one.
By fostering collaboration, implementing visual enhancements, and tailoring plans to your family’s needs, we can address the core issues related to communication breakdowns .
Ultimately, this program aims to reduce behavioral and communication challenges, instill hope, and empower your family.
Communication Systems Support Personalized to Your Family’s Needs
Working closely with our team of experts and disability consultants, you’ll participate in a 12-week program focused on using communication tools, enhancing visuals around your home, and developing an individualized communication plan.
Week 1
In-person session focused on setting up and modeling effective communication strategies for your child or loved one with a disability.
Week 2
Virtual session for check-ins, reflection, and planning for the following in-person session.
We’ll repeat this cycle for 12 weeks to ensure continuous support and improvement based on the feedback you provided. (You may opt for more in person modeling if needed.)
We’ll also do a check-in during Week 4 to make sure we’re making progress and reassess if not.
Social Communication Support Personalized to Your Family’s Needs
Week 1
Directly model and teach effective communication, social thinking, and social cognition skills on a personal level in your home.
Week 2
Reflect and regroup on how the tactics are working and what’s needed for additional understanding.
We’ll repeat this cycle for 12 weeks to ensure continuous support and improvement based on the feedback you provided. Then you can decide whether to continue, take a break for continued practice, or venture off on your own.
Who Is This For?
Our program is designed for caregivers and parents of children with disabilities, providing essential support to bridge the gap between school or community resources and home. This includes:
Parents & Guardians
Whether you are new to navigating the complexities of raising a loved one with disabilities or have been doing so for years, our program offers practical, customized strategies to help you create a supportive home environment.
Family Members
Extended family members who play a significant role in the life of a loved one with a disability, such as siblings or grandparents, can benefit from our program by learning how to better support and communicate with their loved one.
Professional Caregivers
Individuals who provide in-home care or support services will find our program valuable for integrating best practices and enhancing their caregiving skills.
Our program caters to families with loved ones with a wide range of disabilities, including but not limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, speech and language disorders, and other learning disabilities.
What You'll Get
Customized Strategies
We’ll develop practical strategies and tools tailored to your child or loved one’s needs.
1:1 Support
You’ll get personalized guidance and support from experienced professionals.
Improved Structure
This program can help you create a more supportive and visually structured home environment.
Flexibility
We offer flexible in-person and virtual sessions that fit your lifestyle and commitments.
What We’ll Focus On
We’ll help you understand and implement social and communication systems already in use by schools, agencies, and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) to boost communication and maintain consistency across locations.
We’ll work with you to integrate pictures and visuals throughout your home to promote enhanced communication for all family members. We’ll also help you label various elements (e.g., stop signs, bathroom signs, core word boards, drawers) for increased accessibility.
We’ll collaborate with you and work alongside your schools, agencies, and SLPs to craft personalized communication plans. We’ll tailor our plans based on your specific needs and where your family needs the most support.
Communication is the cornerstone of independence. We’ll focus on understanding and utilizing facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, and even digital communication (like text messages). These social communication and awareness skills help you better engage and navigate the world around you and pick up on social cues you may otherwise miss.
Our program focuses on enhancing perspective-taking and understanding idiomatic expressions and context so you can better understand the nuances of language and communication. For example, when someone says, “It’s raining cats and dogs,” you’ll learn to interpret this as heavy rain rather than taking it literally. There’s all sorts of these types of phrases, so we want to help you minimize social confusion.
We’ll use role playing and video modeling to work through social situations and spaces that cause anxiety. We utilize technology and tactics you already know and use daily, enhancing your ability to express yourself effectively in different situations and environments.
Visual aids can be powerful tools for improving organization, understanding, and independence. Our experts will help you integrate visual supports throughout your home. This can include labeled areas, visual schedules, or step-by-step guides for daily tasks. These enhancements are tailored to your specific needs, making your home environment more accessible and user-friendly.
Every individual is unique, and so are your communication needs. We create personalized communication plans that align with your strengths and preferences and work with your support system to implement. Whether you need strategies for clearer communication at home or school, or more effective ways to connect with your community, we are here to develop a plan that works for you.
Affordable Solutions for Every Family
This program is $200 per hour (paid by the respective counties if you are on the CLTS program). Contact us to learn more about cost and financial solutions.
Focus on Freedom is committed to helping you break down barriers and build a cohesive and supportive network for your child. Together, we can help them reach their full potential and improve quality of life.
Request a Consultation Today
Getting started with Focus on Freedom is easy! Fill out our online form below and we’ll schedule a free consultation to discuss your goals, answer questions, and see if it’s a good fit.
