Support expanded for families affected by autism

Autism Delaware has recently expanded its programming options for Delaware families affected by autism spectrum disorder, thanks to state funding through the Delaware Network for Excellence in Autism. Established by the Delaware Legislature in 2016, the network is a multi-agency collaborative network led by the University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies. The goal is to increase the available training surrounding Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Delaware's expanded family support services are organized around the theme Reach Out Before You Burn Out. The program provides a yearlong calendar of available parent training and accessibility through Facebook Live, plus a new collaboration with the First State's education program, the Delaware Autism Program. Called Autism 101, it addresses a range of needs noticed over the years by the autism program and Autism Delaware staff.

"Through this program, we can train families with children who are newly diagnosed with ASD. By training, we mean help in understanding what autism is, working with your child who has ASD, and finding resources in the community as well as other important components," says Annalisa Ekbladh, Autism Delaware family support program manager.

A calendar of available parent training includes professional speakers with backgrounds specific to ASD issues. "The workshops take place in Autism Delaware's Newark and Lewes offices, and air simultaneously on Facebook Live so that busy parents and caregivers have easy accessibility to the information. Our workshops on Facebook Live have been incredibly successful so far," says Ekbladh. "Because Facebook Live is so much more interactive than webinars, families can ask questions and get answers in real time. The workshops only began in April, and the first one was viewed 943 times. And the second was viewed 1,300 times in the first two days! An unintended benefit of this format is the parent connections that have been created. In this format, parents readily share their experiences and support each other, all in real time."

Also with the state funding through the network, two new family navigators are being added to the Autism Delaware staff. Both navigators are bilingual, so their goal is to provide more outreach to Delaware's Spanish-speaking community as well as greater access to families affected by ASD.

Finally, the establishment of the network also served as the impetus for a collaborative effort with autism agencies such as Autism Delaware, Delaware Autism Program, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, La Red Health Center, the University of Delaware's Center for Disabilities Studies and Delaware Family Voices. The goal is to create a stronger community by addressing any overlap and gaps in supports and services. "We all see families in difficult contexts. By collaborating with each other, we can develop a conduit to help all families in need," says Ekbladh.

For more information, go to www.autismdelaware.org or call Ekbladh at 302-224-6020, Ext. 218, or email annalisa.ekbladh@delautism.org.