Words like Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, and Autism Disorders can trigger all sorts of images and negative thoughts. But there are things that a parent with a special needs child can remember to make all the new information not so overwhelming.
Tips for Parents of Kids With Autism and Asperger's
Parenting special needs children can be difficult. Fortunately, there are ways for parents to help ease that burden. Below are a few ideas that might be helpful:
- Asperger's, Autism, Autism Spectrum are all just labels. It's best for parents of special needs children to remember that these words are just that, labels.
- It is better to find out that a child is on the Autism Spectrum now than to wait until he or she is older. There are many things parents can do to make their child’s future the best it can be. The sooner a parent gets a child who is on the Autism Spectrum treatment the better his or her future will be.
- Find a support group. There are many organizations that want to help parents with special needs kids. Parent Helping Parents is one good resource. However, parents can also research the community for what is best for children who are on the Autism Spectrum.
- Don't be ashamed and hide a child’s disability, be it high functioning Asperger's or low-functioning Autism. Most people know someone or love someone with Asperger's or Autism and speaking openly about it may help in finding others who need and want to talk about the conditions and their children.
- Who ever said "knowledge is power” was completely right. The more parents read about Autism the more confident they will feel. Knowledge will not only in help to ward off all those negative stereotypes but will help one feel confident and in control. So, read, read, read as much information as possible on Asperger's Syndrome and other disorders that are on the Autism Spectrum.
Special Needs Parenting Resources
Some good resources to help children with learning disabilities are:
- Parenting Your Asperger Child (Perigee, 2005) by Alan Sohn, Ed.D., and Cathy Grayson, M.A.
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (Perigee, 2004) by Chantal Sicile-Kira.
- Kids in the Syndrome Mix of ADHD, Tourette’s, Bipolar, and More! (Kingsley, 2007) by Martin L. Kutscher, M.D.
And here is a list of not-so-technical writings from people with Asperger's and Autism:
- Look Me in the Eye: My Life With Asperger’s (Crown, 2007) by John Elder Robinson.
- Thinking in Pictures: My Life With Autism (Vintage Books, 2006) by Temple Grandin.
- The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s (Future Horizons, 2008) by Temple Grandin.
When parents first discover that their child has Asperger's or Autism, their first natural reaction is fear and uncertainty. It can be alarming trying to absorb all the information given. Just remember that words like Asperger's Syndrome, Austism Disorder, children with disabilities, and children on the Autism Spectrum are just labels. Help is available for families affected. These tips and resources will help get the parent with a special needs child off to a good start.
Mary Moustakas - Working on Masters in Clinical Psyc. Have a son on the autism spectrum so, I hope to pursue a Ph.D in neuropsychology.
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