Charlene Gervais

First Year Tackle Box Charlene Gervais

The goal of the First Year Tackle box is to help guide parents and family members through the initial worries surrounding their child's development. If you have concerns regarding your child's development, you should be taken seriously and advocate for your child. Early screening, diagnosis and treatment should not be delayed if you have concerns. None of us want to think about our child having a developmental problem, yet all of us want to know about how our child learns and the best way to help them. Assessments are the best way to find out. This book begins by explaining the assessment process and what is involved. There are often long wait lists for assessment and treatment, so it will be of benefit to book an assessment as soon as you become concerned, you can always cancel it later. The Early red flags include: -Lack of babbling and/or gestures at 12 months-Lack of single words by age 16 months-Lack of two-word combinations at 24 months-Any regression or loss of words or loss of skillsWhen booking an assessment, you can have your doctor refer you to the local children's hospital, but also actively explore private options. Many parent's have coverage under their private medical plans to cover the expense of a psychologist. Your child's assessment will ensure that if needed, treatment can begin. There are often long wait lists for intervention services through public programs, so the earlier your child is identified, the earlier your child can begin getting the help that he or she needs. If your child is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, the rest of the guide will help you with ideas of how to teach new skills at home and thoughts from other parents. Please know that your child can learn. Please take the time to read all parts of this book; it is designed to help you through this difficult time. Please give special attention to stories from families. These families have opened up their hearts in the hope to help others cope and learn.