2020 was a challenging year for everyone, especially for families of children with autism. Here at Springtide Child Development (a family-centered child development center providing collaborative care for children with autism spectrum disorder) we spent the year hard at work adapting and evolving our practice to meet the needs of our families. In the process we have learned some valuable lessons that will help families of children with autism now and well into the future.
1. Daily Structured Schedules Help
Daily structured schedules help children with autism reach their greatest potential by creating a predictable environment. In 2020, the clinical team learned creative ways using technology and family partnerships to provide the structure our kids require. Working with families, we created daily activities that became familiar and helped our kids feel comfortable, accomplished, and productive. Some of the scheduling tips we set in 2020 have become welcome additions for 2021 post-COVID home routines.
2. Foster a Collaborative Dialogue with Schools
The ultimate goal at Springtide is to provide the skills needed for children to join their peers in a classroom setting. Last March, like all schools, Springtide was forced into a new way of learning and therefore had to adapt the preparation process for our kids through a new level of open and collaborative dialogue with schools. At Springtide, we value the relationships we have with public and private schools which will continue to enable us to best address our kids’ needs.
3. Family Partnership Has Long-Term Benefits
As we offer personalized, holistic treatment plans for children, we've noticed that the best outcomes result from parental involvement and support. In 2020, this went to another level as we delivered learning materials to children’s homes and provided video services and resources in an effort to make the most out of a challenging time. Parents were initiated into the clinical team process like never before and ultimately, the kids will benefit long-term from the closer relationships and shared knowledge.
4. Cultivate Clinical Team Relationships
We take great pride in providing high-quality services to our families. The Springtide team grew closer while navigating lockdowns and uncertainty, together. The team went above and beyond because we enjoy the work we do, love our families and are driven to achieve positive outcomes. The clinical team grew closer to one another through a year of learning how to do an in-person job, online. We re-learned our careers and shared successful tips and tricks which ultimately made all of us smarter for our kids and closer as a team.
5. Ushering in A New Normal, Together
It appears that more of our lives are moving virtual; we have to adapt. Even as we look to September, there is unknown about how traditional school will look. There are national and global discussions about shifts in work and school to online for the foreseeable future. We have found that having one interdisciplinary team of caring specialists under one roof coordinating daily to track progress sets us apart and has set our families up for success. Our team proved that they can work together in this unpredictable new world.
These were our learnings and insights from the pivot we made in the pandemic. We’re still providing the same top-class services to families where we empower children with autism to reach their greatest potential through personalized, holistic, clinical team-oriented treatment plans. We’re excited that our Springtide Ridgefield location is open and we cannot wait to see you in person as we venture into a post-Covid world together.
Learn how Springtide can help your child.
Springtide offers comprehensive support in ABA, speech and occupational therapy - in clinic and online. There's no waitlist - we take insurance and can begin treatment in as little as 7 days.
Download our overview guide to get in touch and learn more or call us at 203-880-5495. Be sure to mention that you read about us in Macaroni Kid!
More About Springtide
Springtide Child Development offers modern clinical care to children with autism. Springtide’s mission is to empower children to reach their full potential. Personalized, holistic treatment plans are tailored to children 2-18 years old with autism. An interdisciplinary team of caring specialists coordinate daily to track progress and help families and children succeed. Springtide offers comprehensive treatment options at each clinic including Applied Behavioral Analysis, Speech therapy, occupational therapy, language acquisition, social skills, school readiness, and functional living skills. Springtide has clinics in Trumbull, CT and Ridgefield, CT. For more information, visit https://myspringtide.com/.
