By Christine Whitmarsh RN, BSN
Building a strong patient-provider relationship with the parents of a child with a disability is one of the most important bonds a rehabilitation therapist can develop. The care giving parent has a finely tuned radar of their child’s behaviors, responses and tendencies. Parents can be excellent barometers for the physical therapist, occupational therapist and speech pathologist of how well the child’s therapy goals are being met. For the travel physical therapist, travel occupational therapist or travel speech pathologist parents can be a vital source of background information on a new patient.
I recently spoke with the mother of a 10 year old boy with autism. She is a self-described, extremely hands-on mom who has always been a very active partner in her son Jonathan’s rehabilitation therapy. Jonathan has worked with physical therapists and speech therapists, some who have traveled to the family’s home for rehabilitation therapy.
What are some things you like the best about the rehabilitation therapists who have worked with your son?
Patience is very important. I obviously also like it when the therapist is a nice person. However I also need them to be strict and firm with my son because that’s how I am with him. Don’t baby him. Be a good nice person but lay down a firm hand when you have to.
I like it when he learns a lot from his therapists. I can see a big difference when my child has learned a lot from someone or if they haven’t. If at the end of the school year, they’re the same child they were at the beginning of the year, and nothing has changed, then I won’t be all that impressed with the physical therapist, speech therapist, or whomever Jonathan is working with throughout the year.
In general, I think it’s all about who loves their job and loves what they do. It’s important for someone to really have the experience, patience and take the time to teach my child new things. I like when therapists take the time to observe my son, learn how he behaves and how he has a certain way of doing things. You really need to take the time to sit there and observe the child, instead of just expecting that he will behave like a “typical” autistic child.
I also like when they make an effort to involve me in the treatment progress. For example, a speech therapist is currently using a new speech device with Jonathan. Every time she sees me at school, she stops and tells me all about the speech therapy sessions. I like that involvement. When the therapists show me how my son is doing I get excited too.
What are some things you like the least about some of the therapists who have worked with Jonathan?
I can always tell if my son does not like a therapist or if he’s not happy and comfortable with them. It’s easy to see when a therapist is lacking in their job skills, when my son is not learning anything from them, or when they’re not being as good or as patient with Jonathan as they should be. The bottom line and most important thing, is that whether my son is comfortable with the therapist. If he’s not – I’m not.
What advice would you give physical therapists, occupational therapists or speech therapists about working with children with disabilities?
It’s very important to be who you are as a person and make sure that you communicate well with the child. You need to have some kind of relationship with the child. I always tell the therapists to make sure you get to know my son, build a relationship and that you have to make him trust you. You need to let him know that you can trust him. Let the child know that you know him and you understand his ways and behaviors. Also, a lot of children with disabilities can sense when a therapist is new (to the field) and they try to get away with things. You have to be firm.
Christine Whitmarsh is a Registered Nurse with a BSN from the University of Rhode Island. She is a freelance health journalist and medical writer and a contributor to Travel Nurse Source and Allied Travel Careers.
Tags: autism, pediatrics, Physical Therapy, rehabilitation therapy
