Building parent-to-parent connections within your school community
A supportive and connected school community is a huge benefit for all parents, and particularly where families face extra challenges such as disability.
A series of resources for parents, focusing on Autism, has been developed by Amaze and funded by the Department of Education. The resources have been created to help nurture strong relationships within your school community between parents and carers of Autistic students and parents and carers of non-Autistic students. As the resource introduction says, “Understanding and acceptance are fundamental pillars of a strong relationship, especially within a school community. For parents and carers of Autistic students, feeling connected, understood and supported can make the world of difference to their child’s school experience.”
How to build connections
Parents of non-Autistic children may be hesitant to ask questions or start a conversation with parents of Autistic children; starting conversations about unfamiliar topics and experiences can sometimes feel uncomfortable and challenging. The guide has information and strategies you can use when engaging with parents/carers of Autistic students about their experiences, and to accommodate their young person’s support needs in a confident and respectful manner.