Supporting Kids with Autism
Jan 23, 2023
Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital program helps kids with developmental disabilities have a better hospital experience which results in better outcomes.
(PRUnderground) January 23rd, 2023
Primary Children’s Hospital is starting the Adaptive Care Program to help kids with developmental disabilities, including autism, have a better hospital experience – and resulting health outcomes.
Some of the guiding principles of the program can help people better understand, accept and accommodate kids with autism in their schools, workplaces and communities.
“Research shows that parents of children with autism and other disabilities frequently report their children have difficulty in the hospital setting. We wanted to change that,” said Emmy Minges, a child life specialist at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital who is leading the pilot with Dr. Paul Carbone, the medical director at the University of Utah Child Development Program at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. “The adaptive care program is in the pilot stages, and we are hopeful that this could be a game changer for patients and families.”
Child life specialists are experts in child development who works to ensure that life remains as normal as possible for children in the health are setting.
Minges has worked as a child life specialist in the emergency room for several years, and discovered that a varied approach to care, communication and support often helps children with disabilities cope. She and Dr. Carbone hope to identify and standardize best practices through the adaptive care pilot.
The pilot is designed to help patients age 3 years and older who have difficulty coping and cooperating in clinics and the hospital as a result of their disabilities.
Healthcare providers receive tools to identify how children with disabilities communicate and learn, their stressors, and how to support them. An adaptive care plan is created by the family and shared with the healthcare team to support the child throughout their hospital or clinic experience, beginning at check-in.
Adaptive care plans might include dimming lights or providing an alternative waiting area to minimize sensory input, modeling a medical procedure on a parent first, or communicating with a patient through pictures or by kneeling to talk with them at eye level, Minges said.
“No two people are the same, and some children have hidden disabilities, like autism that influences the way they interact with people and the world around them. But disability is one characteristic of a person, it’s up to us to appreciate their differences,” Minges added. “This is a key concept that can help people better understand and connect with kids with disabilities in the community as well.”
Minges offers the following tips to help teach children to be supportive of peers with developmental disabilities:
- Use clear, respectful language when talking about a person with a disability to your child. Example: “She uses a wheelchair because some parts of her body don’t work in the same way as your body.”
- Teach that we all have different likes, aspirations and goals, but everyone wants friends.
- Know that making a joke about someone always hurts.
Books and shows that portray kids with disabilities, such as Sesame Street and the book “Wonder,” by R.J. Palacio, also can be helpful.
More information is available at PrimaryChildrens.org.
About Intermountain Healthcare
Headquartered in Utah with locations in eight states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Healthcare is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information and updates, click here
The post Supporting Kids with Autism first appeared on PRUnderground.
Press Contact
Name: Jennifer Toomer-Cook Phone: (801) 662-6590 Email: Contact Us Website: http://intermountainhealthcare.org/Original Press Release.
More News
Who is Shin Min-a, the ever-popular film and K-drama star fronting The Remarried Empress?
Shin Min-a currently rules the Eastern Empire as the titular character in Disney+’s hit fantasy romance The Remarried Empress. Yet, lofty though her protagonist’s rank may be, the actress is no stranger to being at the top, having enjoyed broad popularity since breaking out on screen more than a quarter of a century ago. Entering the industry as a model at age 14 in 1998, Shin quickly found herself in front of numerous cameras, appearing in a slew of popular music videos and advertisements. She...
Plan A Tropical Vacation And We'll Reveal Your Mental Age
A hostel bunk? With this aging back pain? View Entire Post ›
How Baz Luhrmann’s ultra-stylised Romeo + Juliet film made Shakespeare cool 30 years ago
William Shakespeare’s star-crossed romance Romeo and Juliet has been adapted for the screen innumerable times, perhaps most famously by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968. While every version reflects the era of its creation, none speaks quite as loudly as Baz Luhrmann’s ultra-stylised, fiercely 1990s take, which turns 30 this month. The second – and best – of Luhrmann’s much-loved “Red Curtain” trilogy, which includes 1992’s Strictly Ballroom and 2001’s Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet (1996) is blessed...
Is a cure on the horizon for hepatitis B? New drug offers hope, but there's a 'long way to go'
Is a cure on the horizon for hepatitis B? A newly-approved drug offers hope, but wiping out this viral liver infection remains a challenge.
Let your hair down. This Hong Kong-born designer will turn it into fashion
“I would say it’s a beautiful mistake,” says Ruby Hung of starting her eponymous label in London in 2023. “For the longest time, I thought I was going to be a stylist or work for a [fashion] publication or a magazine. I didn’t even have a sewing machine back then.” Yet, at 25, the Hong Kong-born designer has already dressed musicians such as Tyla, FKA Twigs and Arca, as well as influencer Kylie Jenner, and showcased her work at industry-wide events, including London Fashion Week. Her choice of...
CANES & TALES LAUNCHES THE GREAT RAILWAY BAZAAR, A COCKTAIL JOURNEY ACROSS EUROPE AND ASIA BY RAIL
Canes & Tales at Waldorf Astoria Osaka introduces The Great Railway Bazaar, a menu inspired by American novelist and travel writer Paul Theroux’s rail journey across Europe and Asia and the happy accidents that make travel memorable. The menu spans five famous railways - the London Underground, the Orient Express, India’s Grand Trunk Railway, Japan’s beloved Shinkansen and the International Express which journeys across Southeast Asia. Each is represented by two cocktails bringing to life the flavors of the region - with one offered in both alcoholic and alcohol-free versions - inviting guests to wander any path that speaks to them.
60 Years of Barbadian Independence // 60 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Island
This year, Barbados celebrates 60 years of independence from Britain. This island paradise is one of the world’s foremost tourist destinations, pairing serene beaches and stunning landscapes with a cool, laid-back feel. But how much do you really know about Barbados? We’ve compiled 60 facts to celebrate 60 years of Barbadian independence, with help from the team at Royal Westmoreland, purveyor of luxury villas for sale in Barbados.
Nationwide US flight grounding causes major disruption as FAA halts departures across America
A nationwide aviation shutdown across the United States brought air travel to an unprecedented standstill on Friday, November 13, after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered all departing flights at US airports to remain on the ground following a major communications failure affecting the country’s air traffic control network. The extraordinary decision disrupted thousands of flights, stranded passengers at airports across the country and created widespread uncertainty for airlines and travellers, with some of the busiest aviation hubs in the world affected.
tulah Clinical Wellness partners US platform to offer specialist medical second opinions in India
tulah Clinical Wellness, developed by KEF Holdings in Kozhikode, Kerala, has partnered with US-based Apex Opinion, operated by Krivox Inc., to provide Indian patients access to independent medical second opinions from US board-certified specialists. The service, expected to become available from November 2026, will cover multiple medical disciplines through remote consultations and medical record reviews.
Viral baker LinLin’s sweet journey to success, from lockdown baking to Korean reality show
Towards the end of 2025, Charmaine Wong Szu Lin was scrolling through her Instagram DMs when a message stopped her cold. A South Korean production company wanted her to join a reality baking show. Her first instinct was deep suspicion. “Is this a scam?” the self-taught Malaysian baker, 30, recalls asking herself. It was not – the offer came from Bite Me Sweet, a baking competition that eventually aired on Viu from April to May this year. The show pairs five renowned female pastry chefs from...
The RuMa Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is a modern oasis celebrating Malaysian heritage
When looking to book a five-star hotel, it’s tempting to play it safe and opt for one of the usual suspects. Brands like Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton, St Regis, Peninsula and the likes – all wonderful hospitality groups with long histories behind them – have properties in pretty much every single global metropolis these days. It’s becoming increasingly rare to come across an independent five-star hotel that offers the same kind of service and facilities as those well-known...
If You Take Multiple Trips A Year, Then You’ll Def Want To Own These 46 Products
Every globetrotter deserves to arm themselves this handy portable clothes steamer and these beloved travel-friendly pants. View Entire Post ›
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.