Parent-School Partnership Program

Support for Schools

• Encourages collaboration and teamwork between schools and families
• Acts as a resource for schools on issues relating to autism spectrum disorders
• Provides information and training to schools
• Accepts referrals for families who might benefit from program resources
• Helps schools to involve parents in the education process

Support for Families

• Helps families establish positive working relationships with school personnel
• Provides families with information and training about autism
• Helps families understand special educational rights and responsibilities
• Provides support in the referral process with other agencies
• Encourages parents to be active participants in their child‘s education
• Parent Mentors attend IEP meetings with families on request

What is the Parent-School Partnership?

• The Parent-School Partnership program is designed to assist children with autism spectrum disorders to reach their maximum potential in the educational system.
• The program will build collaboration between parents and schools, recognizing that both are essential partners in the child‘s education.

Parent-School Partnership Objectives

• To facilitate partnerships between school personnel and the parents of students with autism
• To strengthen mutual respect and understanding between parents and school personnel
• To join parents and schools in guiding each child toward knowledge and independence

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors occur in 1 in 150 individuals. Over 25,000 individuals in South Carolina have autism spectrum disorders.

It is four to five times more common in males and occurs in all social and ethnic groups. Family income, lifestyle and education levels do not affect the chance of occurrence.

Autism interferes with the development of the brain in reasoning, social interaction and communication skills. People with autism typically have deficiencies in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate and relate to others. They may resist changes in routine, exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking, etc.) and have unusual responses to people or attachments to objects. Sometimes aggressive or self-injurious behavior occurs.

More than 1.5 million people in the U.S. have some form of autism. Its prevalence rate now places it as one of the three most common developmental disabilities, much more common than Down Syndrome. Yet the majority of the public, including some professionals in medical educational and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects behavior. Progress is being made in developing more effective teaching methods and other interventions for individuals with autism.

What are Autism Spectrum Disorders?

Autism is considered to be a spectrum disorder, meaning that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. This is why the term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is sometimes used. Although autism is defined by a set of specific behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of them with any degree of severity. ASD includes Autism, PDD-NOS and Aspergers.

Download the PSP brochure here.