You Don't Have To Go It Alone
By Dan Coulter
If you’re raising a child with autism
or Asperger syndrome, you don’t have to go it alone.
I’ve met a lot of parents who are
super-dedicated to their kids. Sometimes they feel they can only
depend on themselves. This is more likely to happen if they run
into roadblocks from schools, insurance companies or other
organizations they had looked to for support.
Self reliance is important, but when
dealing with the autism spectrum, I’ve seen overdoses of it result
in anxiety, stress and burnout.
One way to avoid these problems is to
continually look for new sources of support. I was recently
involved in a recognition program that allowed me to learn about a
lot of special individuals who’ve made life better for people with
autism or Asperger Syndrome and their families.
Let me share a few examples:
A mom in Missouri was concerned that
the male teacher her son had been assigned for the third grade might
be intimidating for a child with Asperger Syndrome who’d previously
only had female teachers. The teacher turned out to be sensitive
and understanding and made her son feel safer than anyone he’d
worked with before.
Many moms and dads in Eastern North
Carolina are better off because of an autism advocate who works in a
TEACCH center, facilitates support groups, trains police officers
and camp counselors about autism and tours schools to advocate for
better services for kids with special needs. She understands these
needs all the better because she has a son with autism.
Hundreds of families in Arizona have
received information about Asperger Syndrome and encouragement
because a mother of a son with AS started an extensive support group
in her state. Through her intensive volunteer efforts, both
families with new diagnoses and “veterans” have a trusted community they can
look to for support.
A mom in Sydney, Australia credits
the teacher of a high-functioning autism class with transforming her
son from a depressed and isolated child to one who looks forward to
school and takes pride in his work. This mother marveled that the
teacher took such a comprehensive approach, helping her son with
timetables, organization, school work and social issues.
In New Jersey, a school principal
helped a family learn to “let go” of anxiety about their son with
Asperger Syndrome by providing an atmosphere where whatever happens
during the school day is treated calmly, fairly and with dignity.
In Wisconsin, an autism spectrum
disorders consultant helped a family see that previous advice
focusing on negative consequences increased their son’s sense of
failure and isolation. By teaching the family about positive
behavior supports and other helpful strategies, this consultant
helped the son become more stable and social and focus on his
talents and interests.
All of these families report dramatic
improvements in their lives because of special people who provided
them support. Some lucked into these encounters; others had to seek
them out.
If your family hasn’t found the help
you feel you need, keep looking. Support groups can be great
networking sources. Many experts in autism and Asperger Syndrome
are willing to visit informally after lectures and seminars and
offer direction. Experienced counselors may have ideas that we’d
never think of ourselves.
The more we look, the greater the
chances we’ll find special people who can supercharge our lives for
the better. Your family’s supercharger may be just a day or a phone
call away.
Good hunting!
***
About the Author: Dan Coulter
is the producer of the DVDs “Understanding Brothers and Sisters
with Asperger Syndrome” and “Understanding Brothers and Sisters on
the Autism Spectrum.” You can read more articles on his website:
www.coultervideo.com.
© Dan Coulter 2008 All Rights
Reserved Used by Permission
