Code Of Conduct--Caregivers

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CAREGIVERS

(Parents, Family Members, Guardians, Staffpersons, etc.)

Diamond Is the Sky is founded by parents of a child with autism so we’re extremely understanding when it comes to the anxiety a parent, guardian, or staff person may feel about their child/person in their care participating in something new or perhaps outside of his or her comfort zone. We also understand the high probability that people who are different learners or possess communication and/or social deficits may struggle at times, especially with a new activity. We have personally experienced the numerous emotions such struggles can produce within a parent or caregiver, including frustration toward the service provider and/or organization offering said activity. But just because we empathize doesn’t mean we can allow any parent, guardian, or staff person to act out on these feelings toward a Diamond Is the Sky service provider, volunteer, other child, or other parent, guardian, staff person, or this organization as a whole. Therefore, we require all parents and guardians to adhere to a Code of Conduct at all times when participating in a Diamond Is the Sky activity. Failure to do so will result in both parent/guardian/staff person and, unfortunately, child/person being cared for being immediately removed from the activity and possibly banned from all future Diamond Is the Sky activities as well. This includes respite providers, baby sitters, therapists, and anyone else sent by a parent/guardian to accompany their child/individual, as they represent you.

Please adhere to the following:

Never direct any complaints or negative commentary toward a Diamond Is the Sky service provider or volunteer in regard to your opinion of their job performance or the activity itself. Should an issue arise, please contact the organization's President directly at S ean@dits.org
Should an immediate concern arise necessitating you to inform the service provider of an issue (for example: another parent is on their cell phone and not paying attention to their child, resulting in a potentially dangerous, destructive, or distracting situation), please do so discreetly and respectfully
Never reprimand somebody else’s child or person in their care
Never mock somebody else's child or person in their care
Never criticize somebody else's child or person in their care
Never engage in an altercation, verbal or otherwise, with another parent, guardian, or person accompanying a child/individual. Should an issue arise, please contact the organization directly at Sean@dits.org
Never arrive to any Diamond Is the Sky activities intoxicated or under the influence of any illicit substance. Not only will you and/or possibly the person you accompanied be banned from future Diamond Is the Sky activities, we are mandated to contact the proper authorities to prevent you from transporting your child/individual
Never take a picture of another child/individual in the class without permission from their parent/guardian (Note: Staffpersons may not grant such permission) and don’t assume such permission also means you can share said picture on social media, as that requires additional permission. Diamond Is the Sky has no problem whatsoever with parents/guardians taking and sharing pictures provided they have the proper consent to do so.
If an activity states a parent or person over the age of 18 must stay with their child/individual, the parent or person over the age of 18 must stay with their child/individual. This includes paying attention to them. Our service providers and volunteers are present to run the class and teach skills, not manage challenging behaviors. Unless otherwise indicated, Diamond Is the Sky activities do not represent an opportunity for a break for a parent/caregiver, as much as we understand how much people sometimes need them.
We understand that because our activities are so affordable, they represent a “low risk” opportunity for your child or individual to try something out. Please also understand that just because our activity didn’t cost the person paying our fee a lot of money doesn’t mean it didn’t cost Diamond Is the Sky a lot of money to offer it. Therefore, before quitting a Diamond Is the Sky activity for any reason, please contact us at Sean@dits.org, as perhaps there are some different approaches within reason we can attempt. As you undoubtedly realize, it’s not in any way unusual for a person with social, communication, and/or sensory issues to need time to adapt to something new or different, and many things that turn out great don’t start that way. All Diamond Is the Sky service providers are required to be patient and understanding. Please remember to do likewise. If something just isn't a fit for your child or person in your care, we get it and will enthusiastically welcome back the child or person in your care for a different activity or perhaps the same one in the future. Please note that a demonstrated pattern by a parent or caregiver of signing up their child/person in their care for Diamond Is the Sky only to quit may unfortunately result in your child/person in your care being suspended or even banned from signing up for future ones.
Similarly, because our activities are so affordable, signing up for something and then failing to show up will not cost the person paying our small fees a lot of money. Once again, however, the same isn't necessarily true when it comes to our organization, which will have wasted money so generously donated or granted by our supporters or that we worked extremely hard to raise. We certainly understand things come up that make attending activities you've registered your child or person in your care impossible. We just ask you provide us with as much notice as possible so we may be able to possibly fill their open spot. Should such notice not be possible prior to the actvity due to unforseen circumstances, again, we understand but kindly let us know as soon as possible after the fact. Please note that a demonstrated pattern of no-showing activities by a parent or caregiver may unfortunately result in your child/person in your care being suspended or banned from future Diamond Is the Sky activities.

All Diamond Is the Sky activities require the parent/guardian to sign a Waiver of Liability that will include said parent/guardian to agree to adhere to this Code of Conduct. Such language is included on the Waiver of Liability form.