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We believe parents are experts on knowing and teaching their children and have the most impact on their child’s development. That is why ECI providers in our program and across Texas use the coaching model to work with you or the designated caregiver for your child when delivering ECI services. During the coaching process, you are becoming equipped to teach your child new skills by learning from the expertise offered to you from your ECI provider as well as by you giving your provider information on what works best for your child and your family’s daily activities and routines.
It is important to understand that the activities will look like things that you do every day such as changing your child’s diapers/clothes, feeding, bath time, and playing. It is also important to remember that all children learn through play and play is a large part of what most children spend their time doing when they are the ages of children enrolled in ECI. There may even be times that you meet with your provider(s) outside of your home, like a park or a grocery store, to help you find ways to make activities outside of your home go more smoothly. If you are unsure about activities or strategies being recommended by your provider, it is important that you ask your provider to explain why the activity or strategy will help your child meet the goal on the plan you developed when your child was enrolled in the program.
What is the coaching model?
Coaching has five steps – joint planning, observation, action and practice, reflection, and feedback – that guide the interaction between you and your Easter Seals ECI provider. Your provider will use these steps during each visit and some steps will be repeated several times each visit.
As you begin the visit your provider will ask for an update on any changes since the last visit as well as ask how anything you and your provider discussed you would focus on working with your child between visits. You may be asked to show your provider how you and your child practiced the activity as well. These steps are examples of the coaching model.
Since the focus of the ECI coaching model is teaching you to work with your child, you are required to participate in the sessions. It is important that you understand your provider is expecting you to join them during the time your child is scheduled to be seen. It is also important that if you do not understand what a provider is expecting you to do, ask them to explain or to show again! If you are unsure of what the provider is asking you to work on between visits, it is extremely critical that you let the provider know.
It is also important to understand that the coaching model requires your provider(s) to document on their computer during the session with you and your child. Some of your provider(s) may wait until the last few minutes of the session to start typing on the computer as he or she wraps up the visit and answers any questions you may have about what to practice until next visit. This is a crucial step, and it is helpful for the provider to use this time to ensure that he or she has not missed anything that your child did or said for the first time during the visit with you. During the wrap up time of the visit (while the provider is focusing on ensuring that the details of the session are documented), you can use this time to complete a diaper change or just play with and enjoy your time with your little one. Anything that you can do to help ensure that your child or other children in your home do not try to help the provider type is appreciated!
If you have any questions about the coaching model and what is expected of you and/or your child’s provider(s), please ask your provider or service coordinator. You are also welcomed to contact Linda Tapia, Executive Director of the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center by email: linda.tapia@easterseals-satx.org or by telephone at 210-614-3911.
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