Philosophy
A Refreshing Approach to Autism
When you think of your special child, do you sense that more is possible and desire a way to achieve that?
Do you want to help your child be able to connect deeply with others so that he or she can have fulfilling and positive relationships?
Are you looking for a way to support the unique needs of your entire family due to challenges that may arise from having a special child?
The Son-Rise Program® inspires hope and offers answers…
Key aspects of The Son-Rise Program® (SRP):
This home-based program harnesses the powerful love and commitment of parents. Parents are trained to be the directors and key players in their child’s treatment. The unique needs of the entire family are supported, for example, through Option Process Dialogues and attitudinal training. An open-minded attitude of acceptance and empowerment is one of the most powerful ways for parents to help their children.
The SRP focuses on social development to address the core challenges that people with autism face. It is through relationships that other developmental milestones are achieved. Individuals are inspired to develop socially and learn using their interests.
Gratitude is the heart of the Son-Rise Program®. Everyone loves to be appreciated, especially individuals with autism. Celebrating people with autism for what they already can do and for each step towards success is an encouraging way to promote self esteem and confidence and help them learn the joys of connecting with others.
Let children lead the way. Individuals with autism find it useful and comforting to engage in repetitive, non-social behaviors such as rocking, flapping, or jumping. Therefore, Son-Rise Program® Facilitators do not judge these behaviors as bad or inappropriate and do not stop people from doing them. Instead we join in with them. Joining refers to joyfully doing exactly what an individual is doing while he or she is not being interactive. We jump, we spin, we run back forth or twirl string all while loving the person we are with and embracing the moment. When we join individuals, it makes it easier for them to perceive and connect with us. Joining is an incredible way to bond and so often when people do it, they are pleasantly rewarded with eye contact and big smiles initiated by the person with special needs. It is often while joining individuals with autism that they make their first connections with others. We do not join behaviors that are hurtful or damaging to property.
The Optimal Learning Environment. The Son-Rise Program® uses a playroom or focus room (for older children) in the child’s home for one on one facilitation sessions. People with autism and other sensory processing challenges, often experience typical environments such as a classroom or shopping center as very overwhelming. In a SRP playroom people with ASD can learn and focus on socializing more easily because distractions are kept to a minimum. The special room, which can be the child’s bedroom, is a controllable environment set up specifically to maximize communication development and demonstrate the user-friendliness of people. Running a Son-Rise Program and using a playroom also makes it easier to implement complimentary treatments such as biomedical and sensory intervention.