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Building BALANCEfor Autism Needs in Clinical Encounters

The BALANCE program is designed to help healthcare providers feel more comfortable providing the best possible care for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families.

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Building Alliances for Autism Needs in Clinical Encounters (BALANCE)

Hospitals

BALANCE was originally developed for healthcare providers working in a perioperative care unit in a pediatric tertiary care center in Canada.

Building Alliances for Autism Needs in Clinical Encounters (BALANCE)

Universities & Educational Institutions

There is nowhere better to equip people with knowledge than in an institution dedicated to learning. Add the BALANCE Tool Kit to their arsenal before sending them out into the world.

Building Alliances for Autism Needs in Clinical Encounters (BALANCE)

Dental Practices

Dental hygienists, nurses, technicians, therapists, and dentists alike can all benefit from the BALANCE training & toolkit – gaining confidence and creating a better overall practice for your patients and their families.

Building Alliances for Autism Needs in Clinical Encounters (BALANCE)

Other Organizations

BALANCE translates well to any healthcare related organizations as it is built on decades of research and experience. With practical teachings and tools, you can take with you, BALANCE will improve your abilities regardless of the organization you are in.

Building Alliances for Autism Needs in Clinical Encounters (BALANCE)

Dental Practices

Dental hygienists, nurses, technicians, therapists, and dentists alike can all benefit from the BALANCE training & toolkit – gaining confidence and creating a better overall practice for your patients and their families.

BALANCE takes a multifaceted approach, giving you information, strategies, and exercises to help you provide better care.

Interactive activities were designed to help you be more comfortable in navigating experience with families, and a tool-kit full of resources that you can use with the kids to help them be more comfortable. Including the BALANCE Take a SEC (sensory, emotional, communication) tool. Take a SEC will help you have better conversations with families about the individual needs of the child and matching care to those needs. 

The program is about building upon your existing skills.

BALANCE is not a prescription of care, it is not meant to tell you what to do, but it does provide lots of opportunities to think about how you use the information and resources we give you in your practice.

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Partnering with patients
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Assessing individual child needs
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Coordinating care
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Empathizing with families
Trusted by some of the world’s leading healthcare practices

We know that healthcare providers want to create the best experiences possible for youth with ASD and their families but sometimes feel unprepared to do so.

The aim of BALANCE is to provide healthcare providers with the knowledge, skills and support to feel comfortable providing PACE-consistent care.

BALANCE Surgery Ed.

BALANCE Surgery Edition is designed to be offered to all staff who have contact with youth with ASD on the day of surgery. This can include nurses, child life specialists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, residents, volunteers, admission clerks and housekeeping staff.

Each unit will identify BALANCE “Champions” who will help with BALANCE implementation and be a resource for other staff members. Modules are designed to be engaging and interactive. They include videos from youth with ASD, their families, and their healthcare providers.

BALANCE Tool Kit

The BALANCE Tool Kit includes a take a SEC tool, which provides guidance on how to assess for sensory, emotional and communication needs, and has recommendations for care modifications to meet these needs.

The Checkmark Icon, a prompt to let staff know to consult the Take a SEC checklist before meeting the youth and family. Visual Schedules with pictures of key events on the day of surgery to facilitate communication. The kit also includes an Autism Friendly pin and coping supplies including headphones, sunglasses, and sensory toys.

Why BALANCE?

Here are some representative quotes of what families had to say after BALANCE

The approach was very oriented to his needs. This was the first time we were asked questions about his needs. They really cared about him having autism.

They really did take my input and put it into practice. [They] reassured me that they used it and it worked wonderfully, they seemed appreciative.

It’s just obvious that the staff has either received training or that they are really serious about adapting their care to make kids more comfortable.

We were in a quiet room to start out with, where we got to stay and wait… Which was great. It was just less stimulation. It was perfect.

The nurse who came in first got all the info from us, was really thorough, very kind. She was great. She seemed very comfortable working with an autistic child.

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Mission Statement:

To help healthcare providers feel more comfortable and confident caring for kids with ASD.

Need Personalized Support? Our BALANCE Champions is here to provide information, tools, and resources. Connect Now