The CALM Compass for Schools, Clinics, and Centers
The CALM Compass is a practical parenting tool that has four directions for you to choose from CONNECT, ARTICULATE, LIFT, and MOVE. Each of these directions points you toward specific skills and strategies you will use in everyday situations. For example, how to respond to a meltdown, how to prepare and plan for problems, or how to help mediate challenging transitions.
The CALM Compass is now available for schools, clinics, centers, or other organizations to provide for parents and caregivers of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). UnitusTI is a cloud-based publishing platform.
CONNECT
- Relate more to your ASD child.
- Respond effectively to challenging situations.
- Regulate your child’s behavior by simply understanding what action steps to take and which tools to use for each situation.
ARTICULATE
- Reflect how your child comes across to you and others with kindness and compassion.
- Reframe your language and communications to help your child get unstuck and change their perspective.
- Review with your child the progress they’ve made and the goals they continue to pursue.
LIFT
- Redirect your child to other topics, activities and tasks when they’re feeling stuck.
- Reassure your child to help them feel confident and overcome barriers to their challenges.
- Reinforce ways they are coping and adapting in positive ways, especially in challenging situations.
MOVE
- Rehearse coping skills or social skills to help build resilience and prevent a negative response or action by your child.
- Repair/Redo when your child makes a mistake to help minimize the negative feelings of failure.
- Recreate with your child to promote leisure, sports and exercise as a way for healthy social interactions.
Learn from Program Author Mitch Leppicello, LICSW
Mitch is a Certified Autism Specialist and Clinical Social Worker with 30+ years of experience providing mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He helps parents and caregivers navigate the countless challenges associated with parenting individuals of all ages with ASD and is the creator of The CALM Compass.
My colleague and I have been working with a family for some time with a complex child with ASD/ADHD. The parents are enrolled in (the) CALM COMPASS program and at our last visit, one parent exuded amazing regulation which impacted and improved her child’s behavior. Honestly, it was magic. The air had changed during our med check visit.
I am writing to say, “holy smokes” great job as your program has led to transformative change.
Emotional regulation, empathy, communication skills, social skills and scripts, behavior guidelines, & more
Providing Direction for ASD Parenting
The technology on UnitusTI is built for your organization to facilitate this program to those who need it the most: parents and caregivers of youth with Autism.
Strategies Inside The CALM Compass
- Respond effectively when your child is having a meltdown
- Prepare for problems
- Mediate challenging transitions without conflict
- Avoid conflict and power struggles
- Help your child learn and grow
- Regulate your child’s (and your own) emotions in times of stress and challenging situations
- Clarify your words and communicate in positive ways
- Help your child understand themselves better
- Use verbal and non-verbal ways to Reframe
- Change yours and your child’s perspectives to overcome challenges
- Strengthen your child’s social and emotional skills
The children you serve are getting best practice care and programming at your school, center, or clinic. What about the parents and caregivers? This is one way you can support them.
Parenting Best Practices from a Certified Autism Specialist
Parents who have chosen The CALM Compass online program report their children having fewer meltdowns and improved emotional regulation. Parents report feeling less burned out and having more direction when it comes to what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. Give the parents and caregivers in your community they support and skills they need.
The CALM Compass
- Lessons with short videos, supplemental materials, and exercises
- Unlimited, on-demand access
- Reflection questions for learning retention and application
Parents are Overwhelmed and Stressed
By using The CALM Compass, program professionals and front-line staff can quickly learn and see the effects of positive and proactive parenting strategies with the families and children they serve. Help them get support now!