Artifact: Parent Empowerment Program I have chosen to develop a program to help parents and caregivers of children who are

newly diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. The outcome: When the parents and caregivers leave this program they will be able to define Autism, understand treatments, and know terms and vocabulary, become familiar with research and statistics and have resources at their disposal. I hope to educate parents and caregivers about the diagnosis, answer questions and point them in the right direction. I will evaluate if goals of the program are met by surveying caregivers and parents using a short questionnaire. 1. Do you feel informed about Autism? 2. Do you feel better prepared to handle your child? 3. Where are you questions answered? 4. Did the recourses help you? 5. Do you feel overwhelmed? 6. Do you know when and where a good starting place for treatment is? 7. Opinions for improvement of the program? 8. Questions?

The target audience is parents and caregivers of children newly diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. The goals of the program are to educate parents and caregivers and to help them become prepared by becoming familiar with 1. Autism definitions 2. Treatments 3. Doctors 4. Support Groups 5. Research 6. Foundations 7. Resources 8. IEPs 9. Inclusion 10. Therapies 11. And more In the first session I will educate about Autism by describing what it is, treatments and more. At the end of the day I would give the parents suggestions of thin to try with the children and find out how they worked the next session. In the second session I would answer questions, introduce resources and talk about resources and financial help. I will have the separate days scheduled out by times. I will attach a topic to each time. I also hope to have a few guest speakers. For example

Day One 10:00 a.m. Welcome and introduction 10:30 a.m. What is Autism? 11:00 a.m. tell us about your child 11:30 a.m. Guest speaker 12:30 p.m. Treatment and possible recovery 1:00 p.m. Questions Homework for next session .Day Two 10:00 a.m. IEPs, Inclusion 10:30 a.m. Therapies 11:00 a.m. Paying for Autism 11:30 a.m. Diet 12:00 p.m. Dan Doctors vs. Pediatricians 12:30 Miscellaneous 1:00 p.m. How did homework go dismiss.

Autism Resources What is autism? (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from http://www.autismspeaks.org/ Newly diagnosed. (2010). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from http://www.generationrescue.org/ Indiana's voice and vision of special education. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from Council for Exceptional Children website: http://www.incec.org/ Indiana institute on disability and community. (2011). Retrieved June 12, 2011, from Indiana Resource Center for Autism website: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=32 How to light it up blue. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from http://www.lightitupblue.org/Markslist/home.do How to get an ipad. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from Talk About Curing Autism website: http://www.tacanow.org/family-resources/ how-to-get-an-ipad-funded/ Grant instructions. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from A.N.G.E.L Inc. website: http://www.angelautismnetwork.org/ index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=60 Free educational apps. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from Apps for Children With Special Needs website: http://a4cwsn.com/ Exceptional children & disability information. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education website: http://napcse.org/exceptionalchildren/ Chromosome disorder outreach. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from http://www.chromodisorder.org/CDO/Resources/LatestResearch.aspx Causes of autism. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from http://nationalautismassociation.org/ Autism treatment and evaluation checklist. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from Autism Research Institute website: http://www.autism.com/ ind_atec_survey.asp Autism. (2011). Retrieved June 15, 2011, from http://www.fallcreekmed.com/