For New Families looking into Son-Rise

We are introduced to a couple new autism families almost every month. Some have been in the boat for a while and heard of Son-Rise, while some are too overwhelmed with the diagnosis and are yet to start looking into treatment options. Most have heard of Aditya's recovery and we notice a pattern in the questions being asked. Most pertain to the Son-Rise intensive, Son-Rise advanced training programs, schooling and diet.

While the staff at SonRise might be able to help families with their unique situation, I would like to share my thoughts on why each is helpful, based on our experience.

• The Son-Rise startup was the most powerful program, that introduced us to the concepts of Son-Rise. It gave us the tools needed to get our home based program going. It covered the developmental model, basic techniques and attitude to get us started. We had breakout sessions depending on the level of functioning of the child, so each group could focus on issues pertaining to where our child was.  We also found it to be a wonderful opportunity to connect to other parents in similar situations.
• Maximum Impact and New Frontiers were both game changers for us. 
     After Baba got back from New Frontiers, we had a renewed understanding of how to use the developmental model, so our program got clear, specific goals. We started becoming more creative with designing games and activities for the playroom and introducing them so they had a higher probability of being accepted 😂 
     Maximum Impact took us way up ⏫ there, attitudinally! We became powerful forces of nature, ready to take on the world. We recruited volunteers fearlessly, gave effective feedback, ran more meaningful and fun team meetings. All of this translated to a child who grew by leaps and bounds and left us scrambling to re-evaluate our goals every month. 
• We had regular Feedback/ Video Feedback sessions with Son-Rise teachers. We got valuable feedback about our attitude and/or techniques in the playroom. These helped us get answers to specific questions. eg, in the initial days, despite knowing the basics and having the correct attitude and techniques, we felt that something was amiss. Turned out, we were not challenging him enough! These feedback sessions were a  tremendous help in keeping our program on track.
• The Son-Rise Intensive! This is the most asked about program, especially by new families. We would like to emphasise that it is not a pill that you/ your child take to recover. Far from that, it is just a window into the infinite opportunities you and your child have for fun, interaction and growth inside and outside the playroom. Most parents are eagerly looking forward to doing their intensive, soon after their startup. But our opinion: Please do NOT rush to do the intensive and here is why...
    The Intensive is a time for your child to enjoy and grow in the playroom for the entire week. It is also when both parents are stretched attitudinally. The intensive week is tailored to each family's need. The Son-Rise staff starts teaching you at the point you are at. So if they sense that you are not clear about the fundamentals, that is where they start! You do not want to spend all the money and go there to learn what you could learn at one of the advanced trainings, AKA, New Frontiers or Maximum Impact. We would recommend that both parents complete at least one of the advanced trainings and be comfortable with option process dialogues before their intensive, to get the most out of it. It is also a good idea to have some feedback sessions to understand what you could do better, as the teachers are so experienced that they can help without even seeing the child.
• Space your training programs, video feedback/dialog sessions, intensive program(s) in a way that you keep getting something new every time you take that program or get that session.  It is like making trips back to the attitudinal gas station (petrol pump, if you are in India) periodically. 
• How do I know that SRP will work for me? Try it out! Attend the startup, read Son-Rise books.  Some of the books we recommend reading:
1. Happiness is a choice, By Barry Neil Kaufman
2. What you can do right now to help your child with autism, By Jonathan Levy
3. Autism Breakthrough: The Groundbreaking Method That Has Helped Families All Over the World, By Raun Kaufman
  We shared the first two with all our volunteers. Raun's book was published towards the end of our program.
   NOTE: I have heard a parent get advice from another parent who is currently doing Son-Rise, to try it out by recruiting volunteers. I would say this is a big NO! Here is why: The volunteers in a Son-Rise Program  help facilitate the child, based on your training, your knowledge and your feedback. When you begin your program, you are still in the learning phase. When you attend the Son-Rise startup, you will learn how to recruit volunteers, train them and give them effective feedback, so that you don't end up  running you program with "Babysitters"!