About the Course
Primary caregivers of young autistic children are increasingly searching for effective means of promoting their child’s mental health and socio-communicative abilities while simultaneously honoring their child’s neurodiversity. Research in PACT has told us that neurodivergent children who are met with parents who can attune, who can validate, and who can meet the child where they are, become increasingly confident and communicative as they grow. Parents report PACT support as a “game-changer” for themselves and for their children, and, most importantly, for their relationships with each other. The goal of this panel is for parent’s to share their experience with this new form of autism support, one that addresses the health and empowerment of the entire family system.
Objectives
Participants will list how PACT strategies support the social intentionality and socio communicative abilities in children, how the approach capitalizes on the modality of reflective video feedback, and how PACT intervention differs from traditional models of autism intervention.
Anna Paola Smith, LCSW, PACT Accredited Provider
Anna Paola Smith attended The University of Texas at Austin where she received her BA in Psychology and her Masters degree in Social Work. She has had the opportunity to work with children and families in the school, hospital, and clinical settings. Anna Paola's interests lie in family systems and how the development of one child may impact the entire family unit. She started a sibling support group at Autism Community Network to provide siblings a safe space to share their own experiences. Anna Paola also provides routine follow-ups for caregivers after their child receives an autism diagnosis and is a bilingual Pediatric Autism Communication Therapy Accredited Practitioner, supporting families impacted by autism through dyadic coaching. Anna Paola is part of an interdisciplinary diagnostic team that uses a strength-based approach to address the unique presentation of the child and family.
Panelists
Tracy Saunders
Samuel Flores
Renee Tomlin
(Additional panelists pending.)
Speaker Disclosures:
Anna Paola Smith receives a salary from Autism Community Network.
Tracy Saunders has no relevant relationships to disclose.
Samuel Flores has no relevant relationships to disclose.
Renee Tomlin has no relevant relationships to disclose.
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