Autism in Real Life

This made me BAWL! WHat a great use of words to put out there! I shared it on my wall, my Son's Sibling Support wall, and the wall of a organization that tests for Autism that I help moderate. This is the best thing I have ever read.

This is an awesome article!!! The things that you discuss in here are all things our family has dealt with and it's like someone took the thoughts right out of me! Thanks for writing such an accurate article!

A wonderful article that every parent with an autistic child should share with friends, family and others with whom you feel need the information. My 28-year-old son is severely autistic. Yet I can still recall with outrage the ignorant, rude woman who followed me out of the grocery store when he was about 10 and having difficulty waiting in line. She asked: "Did you consider an abortion?" With all the dignity I could muster, while loading groceries and hanging on to my son, I replied in a steely tone: "Autism is not identified until a child is three (the norm at the time.) What could she have been thinking?

My daughter has autism and is going to be 22
I'm happy to say that she is the love of my life and what I get up and run everyday for.
She is mentally like a 6 year old child and is social and happy and loving.
She has her moments but what I would tell all who have children like her is: "Say focused on the child, engage them, go as far as they will go, and embrace all the craziness that comes with this. It is not the end of the world but maybe the starts of a lifetime of happiness that you and your child can have together. I have seen dark days with her and when the sun shines it shines brightly and strong.
Remember early intervention is key and hold on to all who love you make them a part of all that is needed to have your child grow.

This is a great article. Thank-You for writing it!

I could ory at this moment because it is so hard raising a child with autism when know one in your family or friend understand. they arevery judgemental and i am definitely isolated. i joined because i am dying for help. i love my child and he is so smart but he have issues.i wish the people around me would understand. i am at the point where i am about to leave my job because my only real help is graduating from high school this year and i now dont know what to do. just asking for a little advise and someon to talk to.

Great article! The suggestions apply to any child with a disability. My kids aren't on the spectrum, but do have developmental delays. I wish I could implant these ideas in every person's mind.

We've been working on a research study dealing with the contributions of service dogs to the quality of life of MS patients, but, as a result of my presence on Facebook and the web, people with kids with autism have been coming out of the woodwork. When my daughter and research partner heard a story from one of the service dog trainers she contacted about her young child who bolted from his father when on a vacation in a national park, after I dried my tears, I began to see the light.

Yes, there is work being done with service dogs for autism, but not nearly enough. It's time for a real research project, similar to the one we are planning for Multiple Sclerosis. My daughter does quantitative and qualitative research and we know it will take both numbers and surveys to prove that service dogs can result is savings in lives and expenses.

The saddest thing is that one of the people who contacted me via my Facebook page is a friend of my daughter’s who is a physician. She has an autistic son and knew she needed a service dog for him, but couldn’t afford it because she was just starting out in medicine. With the proper research on autism and MS we just might get the costs of service dogs covered by medical insurers. Even if we don’t, at least we’ll open eyes and spread the word.

I found that when we got the diagnosis I was worried about all of these things. I worried my 4 year old wouldn't continue to make friends and would be left out. It sounds silly. I work in early intervention and have for years. What I can say is your true friends and their children are your blessings. My son had his first non family birthday party invite because he now attends special ed preschool! He is actually making more friends! I cried when we left the party because he was so happy he had a new friend.
So having good friends and family is a blessing! But remember...it is the white elephant in the room and as a parent...sometimes we want to talk about his normal things like how well he did at hockey practice! Not the current therapy, vitamin regimen or meltdown you just witnessed. Sometimes it is just nice to have a playdate and for adults coffee time!

Kathy,

You sound like you are a normal parent with normal worries, only yours are more intense. We all need some lightness in our lives.

A service dog just might help you and your son. Service dogs for autism are trained to alleviate some of your worries--best of all, your son and his dog would be welcomed with open arms because dogs are so much fun and are so universally loved.

I don't have anything to gain personally, all we are doing is planning a research project. Our goal is to educate the public and get insurance companies to help pay for service dogs.

Visit our Facebook page, Service dogs for Autism, and our website: servicedogsrockforautism.com. You can contact me via the website; please let me know how you are doing.

Kathy,

You sound like you are a normal parent with normal worries, only yours are more intense. We all need some lightness in our lives.

A service dog just might help you and your son. Service dogs for autism are trained to alleviate some of your worries--best of all, your son and his dog would be welcomed with open arms because dogs are so much fun and are so universally loved.

I don't have anything to gain personally, all we are doing is planning a research project. Our goal is to educate the public and get insurance companies to help pay for service dogs.

Visit our Facebook page, Service dogs for Autism, and our website: servicedogsrockforautism.com. You can contact me via the website; please let me know how you are doing.

Excellent list! The only thing I would add is prayer and patience! That's how I made it this far with my son who is now 21 years old.

I am right there with you on the don't judge piece...I got so many of those looks when my son was young. And then my quirky, challenging child aged out of the looks that judged...and into looks of pity. From "how that child is misbehaving" to "oh, he's a special needs kid" looks. I never. saw. it. coming. I know it's difficult to keep your thoughts as you watch a child from reflecting in your eyes, but trust me...we parents can read them from way far away. Please try to realize that as challenging as our children are...they are also tremendous blessings in so many ways. Please don't feel sorry for us or our children.

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Kimberly.!

THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for saying EXACTLY what MY heart needed to hear which is.....'OmG.! Someone else really gets it.!' and for speaking what my heart has wanted to say 1000 times.!

This is coming from a single mama who not only has had to 'Live the fishbowl' since my lil one was born, but also fight a family which she never married into in court because they do not want to believe or acknowledge my daughter's Autism.

It has been a very challenging position to be in....but as we come to realize we can either lose ourselves in the overwhelming problem or get into solutions.....

My link above is how I have gotten into the solution by choosing to deal with my challenges by creating a way to give back and also help to 'educate'. We as parents of any challenging kiddos know that if we can just take the 'puzzle pieces' (our kidz) with the right amount of skills learned, interventions and therapies available and love...our world does indeed become MORE colorful. ThANK YOU again for this writing....I will be sharing it with a group of over 125 families that I am sure will find this most refreshing and useful as well. :)

All my best,
Laura