Defining what makes someone be a consultant

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I just wanted to let you know about a topic we are speaking about on

another list

called autismaba

we are getting together (parents and professionals) to develop a

better database listing of consultants out their.

The purpose of such a new database would be to list only those

consultants who are really appropriate (based on their training and

education) to work with children with disabilities such as autism.

The talks started with us (parents and professionals) speaking about

how many people are out their claiming to be autism consultants ,

behavioral consultants etc and turn out not to have any appropriate

education or exp to work with our children on the spectrum. So we

wanted to form a new database which would list educators and psych's

who have the appropriate background to work in a position for a

school and or family and or agency as a " consultant "

so thought maybe this group whould like to add comments (PLEASE) and

what they feel a consultants background should be.

The group once again is called autismaba

thanks all

Hope its ok I posted this

A Reis, MA PSYH

Autismnetworks.com

[Guest guest]

,

I certainly think what you are doing is necessary and a good thing. I would only caution you to really think about the requirements that meets your criteria. There are professionals out there, like myself, who have no formal background, education or degree, yet we help parents who have autistic children every day, successfully. I think your criteria would exclude many good resources for parents who have children on the spectrum.

I am a parent advocate, I have a daughter with PDD-NOS (my #1 qualification), and 40% of my clients have children on the Autistic spectrum who many of them were never identified by the school system or the professionals they were working with until they came to me. My daughter was mis-identified for six years, in spite of working with "degreed" psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and educational consultants. I was the one who researched the symptoms of my daughter's condition out of frustration, found the "appropriate" doctors to help and identify her, and subsequently made the school provide appropriate services. Professionals and educators made mistakes, some of whom will probably be on your list because they meet your "criteria". I'm certainly not saying that all these guys are bad, I'm just trying to demonstrate that degrees and qualifications don't necessarily make them good either.

It has also been my experience that many psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists and even educational consultants do NOT know special education law. Parents need to beware and be informed.

Parent Advocates and list servs like this one and GA Children's Network are also great resources for parents to discover who the "true" professionals are who can help our children. You just might want to "think" about including these resources as well.

You are certainly welcome to forward my response to Autismnetworks, or wherever you think it is appropriate.

Respectfully,

Carol SadlerSpecial Education Consultant/Advocate (who's not a professional, doctor, or educator)CarolSadler@...www.IEPadvocate4You.com

Moderator:

GA-ChildrensNetwork/

[Guest guest]

Just wanted to say thank you Carol Sadler for your response.

The purpose of a better consultant listing which my group and others

want to create is because the current listings out their have many

so called professionals and or consultants who besides from having a

degree are not appropriate to work with our kids (including my

teenage brother with ASD). We want to make a listing of consultants

and setup a better criteria for consultants which would require

hands on work exp and mentorship and so fourth similar to the BCBA

process (board certified behavior analyst) however the current so

called " BCBA process " is ineffective allowing people to become so

called certified consultants with little more then a degree and a

few hours of so called mentorship which many current BCBA's simply

charge a fee to " signoff " on papers saying they were mentored.

So I feel setting up a new/better nationwide criteria would address

the issues you had mentioned. Also I like to think that advocacy is

very different then over seeing a child's educational program which

should be done by someone with a high level degree as well as many

years hands on exp, etc. Otherwise why have college and levels of

education at all if someone without a degree would be better suited

to work in that capacity. However I think you meant to say that

based on your HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE you found yourself more capable of

working with your child and even dx her/him because the so called

professionals you were working with matched what my group and others

want to address.

hope that makes sense and doesn't sound like I am criticizing you

because I am not.

Best Regards All

A. Reis, M.A. Psych

[Guest guest]

<Also I like to think that advocacy is very different then over seeing a child's educational program which should be done by someone with a high level degree as well as many years hands on exp, etc.>

,

No, I don't see the two as completely separate issues or entirely different either. I work daily with schools and parents to implement appropriate educational plans for my clients (not just my children) PLUS I ensure that their needs are met AND special education laws are followed.

I'm only suggesting to you guys that you do not throw the baby out with the bath water. What would be most important is to develop a list of "known" professionals who ARE effective while you are at it.

Carol SadlerSpecial Education Consultant/AdvocateCarolSadler@...www.IEPadvocate4You.com