Autism support for parents in Malta
You’ve been given a word, or you’re waiting for one, and either way tomorrow morning still needs getting through. That’s where autism support for parents in Malta begins: with the practical side of home life and what to ask of school.
What we work on together
We can work on understanding your child’s needs in plain words, so the day-to-day makes more sense. That covers communication: what your child is trying to tell you and how you respond. It covers routines and transitions: what holds your day together and where it breaks down.
We can look at regulation and sensory overwhelm: what tends to set it off, and what helps. School comes into it too: meetings, reports, the IEP and classroom strategies. And friendships: what your child wants, and what might help.
A diagnosis can feel like a wall of information arriving at once, and waiting for an assessment can feel like standing still. We start with whatever is hardest this week.
Is there an autism specialist in Malta?
Yes, but “autism specialist” can mean different people, depending on what you need.
Autism is assessed and diagnosed by medical and psychology professionals. In Malta, one public route is the Child Development Assessment Unit (CDAU). [confirm: current referral route to the CDAU, and whether to mention private assessment]
I’m not a diagnostic specialist, and I don’t do therapy. I have a Master’s degree in Autism and Developmental Disorders, and I support families with what comes next. My guide to autism support in Malta explains the routes in more detail.
Working with your child’s school
In Malta, a child recognised as having special educational needs by the Statementing Moderating Panel and Appeals Board has an IEP, an Individual Education Plan. The national Autism Spectrum Support Team may also be involved, with staff attending IEP meetings, reviews, transition meetings and case conferences.
I can help you prepare. We go through the IEP and any reports together, so you understand what’s written and what it means day to day. Then we work out what you want to raise and how to ask for it clearly. [confirm: does Rossella attend school meetings with parents, or only help them prepare?]
More in school and IEP support and the IEP guide.
I work in English and Italian, so you can choose whichever feels easier. This matters for Italian families in Malta, because the school system runs in English and Maltese, and IEP meetings, reports and letters arrive in those languages. You can ask your questions in Italian and get answers you can use. Leggi in italiano.