Ms. Whittle and her babies became celebrities even before the quadruplets were born in January 1998. Ms. Whittle's quadruplets were conceived without the use of fertility drugs. She was arrested in October 1998 and convicted in November 1999. Professionals and families need to work collaboratively in designing an intervention program that will meet the needs of their child. If professionals make an effort to understand each family's perspective, beliefs, social values, and cultural identity, they will more fully comprehend how parents are raising their child.
Parents have the right to take part in decision-making concerning their child's care and education.
They need sound information to make informed choices. It is critical for professionals to be honest in discussing expectations, and sensitive in their approach. Parents have the most expertise concerning their child. The staff in an early childhood program need to understand the dynamics of autism and how it affects the child in their care. It is important to be aware of the interplay between language and social skills, the communicative abilities of the child, the meaning of behaviors exhibited by the child, and the importance of structure and routine for the child.