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Thank You For Giving Me Back a Bit of Strength
This is a response we received from a recipient of a grant from our Autism Cares program. The Autism Cares grant went to her gas bill, electric bill, and her rent. Autism Cares provides financial support to families affected by autism during natural disasters and other catastrophic life events. These grants help to cover costs associated with critical living expenses such as; housing, utilities, car repair, daycare, funeral expenses, and other essential items on a case-by-case basis.
Dear Autism Speaks,
I just got home from work and received your e-mail about our Autism Cares grant, and it’s taken me quite a while here to stop the tears! You have NO idea how grateful we all are for your help! I am just floored…thank you, thank you, thank you!
I had no idea how I was going to get through March, let alone catch up with the bills on which I was past due. Now we will be able to be “in the black” for the first time in a LONG, long while! Not to mention the fact that now I’ll have a little extra money for food that our state food benefits doesn’t cover for us. You are such a blessing to us!
How do I possibly convey my thanks? I don’t know how…I just don’t. All I know is that I will finally rest a little easier. It isn’t just “help with the bills” that you are giving my family…it is also knowing that there are those who really do CARE, and who understand the challenges of having multiple children with autism in a single-parent home. It’s never easy, I know, but I’ve often wondered “why me”? Why my family, my boys? Now I know why: these children have given ME so much strength I would’ve never had otherwise. Sometimes, however, I just don’t feel very strong.
Once again, I just am SO grateful for this help! This will pull us out of a big hole, and my boys will finally not see me weep about money concerns!
Thank you…SO MUCH…for giving me back a bit of strength….!
Many Blessings to you!
For more information about Autism Cares, visit www.autismcares.org.
Adults with autism and their families often left without help after high school
This is a guest blog post by Dr. Paul T. Shattuck. Dr. Shattuck is a national expert on disabilities, specifically autism. He has published a number of articles on the prevalence and course of autism as well as on policies and services for people with autism and their families.
Do the challenges of having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the needs for special supports magically disappear in adolescence? No! But many families are pushed off a cliff when it comes to accessing needed services for their young adults with an ASD.
My team and I used data from a large national survey to look at the use of diagnostic medical services, mental health services, case management, and speech therapy during the first few years after leaving high school. In a report published this month in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, we found that overall rates of service use were 23.5 percent for medical services, 35 percent for mental health services, 41.9 percent for case management, and 9.1 percent for speech therapy. This compares with higher rates of service use while in high school: 46.2 percent received mental health services, 46.9 percent had medical services, 74.6 percent were getting speech therapy, and 63.6 percent had a case manager.
We also found that 39.1 percent were completely without all four of these essential supportive services. African-American youths and those from poorer households were at much higher risk for this total lack of services.
I was especially troubled by the low rate of accessing speech therapy. Youths with an ASD are especially vulnerable during this period because of their core challenges with communication and social interaction. Succeeding at a job, at school, or in the community depends on being able to communicate with other people. Speech therapy can help with these issues. But many insurance plans and state programs for vocational support or serving adults with developmental disabilities do not reimburse for speech therapy. Building in speech therapy as an eligible expense in adult-serving programs should be an immediate priority for policy improvement.
Why did I ask these questions? Many people who have, or work with, young people who have special needs already know that services drop off after high school. But there are many people and policy makers who have no clue about how dysfunctional these policies are. This study adds hard facts that can be used to educate and raise awareness about how the current system (mal)functions.
The majority of a typical lifespan is spent in adulthood. Yet the majority of what we know about ASDs is based on a lot of research focusing on very young children. I pursued these questions as part of a broader research mission aimed at understanding how to improve life for people with an ASD and their families across the lifespan. Autism Speaks, the Organization for Autism Research, and the National Institute of Mental Health have generously supported this ambitious agenda. I look forward to giving you more updates in the years ahead as we begin to build a stronger evidence base for helping adults with an ASD and their families have brighter futures.
Here is a link to the Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit, to serve as a guide to assist families on the journey from adolescence to adulthood.
Family Services provides resources and information. If you have a question, contact the Autism Response Team today. If you’re concerned that your child may be affected with autism or if you’ve received a diagnosis, browse the Tools for Families section, where you’ll find our 100 Day Kit, and the Autism Video Glossary. If you’d like to do a quick search for service providers near you, select Find a Local Resource and browse the Resource Guide.
Tips on Applying for Financial Aid for your Family Member with Autism
This is a blog post by J-Jaye Hurley, Autism Response Team coordinator on the Autism Speaks Family Services team and the mother of a child with autism.
1. Print all pages of the application and read them carefully. Twice. . . These applications are usually lengthy and complex so you must review their own requirements. Many applications ask for similar items (tax statements, IEPs, etc) but they are ALL in a different format. If you do not provide the information they request AND in the format they request, you can be denied. If you do not send in all the information at the same time, you can be denied. Also review their application criteria before you apply. A friend of mine filled out a long application only to realize they didn’t provide assistance for the therapy she was interested in. Know all requirements before diving in.
2. Be aware of deadlines. Some family grants are year-round but the majority I applied for had specific deadlines. In fact, I was unable to apply for one that I wanted because I missed their annual deadline. If you are requesting therapy notes or letters of recommendation, make sure you allow plenty of time to gather all information, complete application and send in PRIOR to that deadline. If they receive your application after the deadline, you will be denied.
3. Be concise and honest. Most organizations review thousands of apps, and the majority of the application is financial information. However, most apps ask the parent for some personal information about the child. Make sure you tell them about your child, why you need their help and how this will make a difference for your child and family. They don’t need your entire life story, but they do need you to be honest and upfront about your needs and situation. Most of our stories speak for themselves so just be yourself and speak from the heart. We are passionate parents and advocates by nature so go with what you know – your child.
4. Get recommendations. Some applications say they will accept letters of recommendation but don’t require them. I recommend your seeking those letters as they only serve to provide additional information on your child and family to this anonymous committee. Ask your therapists, physicians or family members. You can save letters and use them for multiple applications each year.
5. Have a friend/spouse review your apps. Before you mail in your completed applications, have someone review it for you. My husband caught typos & had suggestions. As a former English teacher, I always recommend having another pair of eyes review your writing. Applications are no exception!
6. Include a picture of your beautiful child! This helps bring a personal and real connection to those reading your applications.
7. If at first you don’t succeed, apply and apply again! I was turned down for some of my applications and I plan to re-apply before 2011 deadlines. Make a copy of your completed application, as it stays basically the same from year to year. It is much easier to update last year’s application than start from scratch on a 10 page app. Update your new information and try again.
Check out this article in Family Services Community Connections.
Family Services provides resources and information. If you have a question, contact the Autism Response Team today. If you’re concerned that your child may be affected with autism or if you’ve received a diagnosis, browse the Tools for Families section, where you’ll find our 100 Day Kit, and the Autism Video Glossary. If you’d like to do a quick search for service providers near you, selectFind a Local Resource and browse the Resource Guide.
A Boy and the Budget
This is a guest post by Shannon Knall, Autism Speaks Connecticut Chapter Advocacy Chair.
President Obama’s Federal Budget for the Fiscal Year 2012 allocated funding to various programs and initiatives designed to help “Win the Future for People with Disabilities.” These proposals include: expanding autism research, increasing support for workers with disabilities, and increasing funding for the education of children with disabilities. Click here to read more.
Have you met my son Jack? He’s pretty awesome. Ok, I’m kind of biased, but he really is. He’s handsome and smart, with a goofy sense of humor. He loves to play the violin, go bowling with his friends, eat pizza and watch old Tom & Jerry cartoons. He has two brothers, who are equally awesome, and they spend a lot of time being gross boys together. You know, laughing about gross boy things. Jack likes hotels a lot and spends a lot of time researching them, because he wants to own a hotel when he grows up.
Sounds pretty typical on paper, doesn’t it? Jack has autism. And in that one word, anything typical goes right out the window… and fast.
His past, present and future are anything but typical. As his mother, I am plagued by questions about how my baby boy “got” autism. I am constantly fighting someone for access to insurance coverage, or for his therapies, or for appropriate educational services. Like most parents of a child with autism, I lie awake at night wondering how my child will support himself, because although he is very smart, the social and communication deficits that are the core of autism will make sustainable employment very challenging – and that’s if there is even a company that would hire him.
One out of every 110 people in America today is a “Jack.” The tsunami is coming.
In my life as Connecticut’s advocacy chair, I try to read and process as much as I can about policy and legislation that may impact all of the “Jacks” here in my state, so I can be as effective as possible when communicating the needs of our community to state and federal policy makers. I am NOT a policy maker, but I’m a mom advocating for my very own Jack and every time I see “autism” in a legislative document, I consider it a victory. Having been at this autism gig for over seven years now – helping my state enact autism insurance reform law, as well as cultivating a close working relationship with elected officials – I also have a pretty decent understanding of what it takes to get policy-makers to pay attention to the issues that affect individuals with disabilities like autism.
I recently read President Obama’s federal budget proposal for people with disabilities, which became the impetus for this blog piece. I was pleased to see that the President’s proposal included funding for research through the NIH (National Institute of Health), so that we can get to the root of the autism epidemic and provide appropriate treatments for our families. The President’s proposal also includes “a $200 million increase for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) State Grants to provide a high quality education and help offset state and local education costs for children with disabilities.” Among other recommendations, the President’s budget plan proposes funding to encourage workforce innovation to make jobs accessible to people with disabilities (as Walgreens Distribution Centers has done) and suggests appropriating “$24 million to the Department of Labor for the Disability Employment Initiative, which awards grants to build the capacity of One-Stop Career Centers to serve individuals with disabilities.”
I might actually sleep a bit tonight knowing these proposals exist. I’m also comforted knowing that Autism Speaks has developed resources for kids like Jack as they make their way through adolescence towards adulthood (see links below).
Make no mistake, this is not a political endorsement. Autism is not defined by a political party. It is defined by the families who live it day in and day out. That being said, I do hope our elected officials in Washington, DC read this blog entry and take it to heart. One out of every 110 people in this country are relying on them to help us take care of our precious children.
For more information:
Read Summary of President Obama’s FY2012 Federal Budget for Individual’s with Disabilities
Download the Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit
Visit Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism (AFAA) website
Putting Self Advocacy to Work
This is a blog post by Kim Milla, BA, a Community Companion to an 18 year old young adult with autism.
Sometimes it’s easier to just do a task yourself or make a decision for someone else, especially for those who are unable to speak and act for themselves. However, I think it’s important not to take the easy way out. I think its better in the long run to have conversations with individuals and explain things to them, even if it doesn’t appear that they understand everything you are talking about. If you simplify your wording, rearrange sentences and words as needed, while maintaining a clear solid voice, you can often get your point across and increase their opportunity to be included in a choice.
To increase effective communication, take the time to find their strengths, and then use those strengths to uncover more about their wants and needs. An example of dialogue may be “rice and eggrolls for lunch? OK, so you’re feeling like eating Chinese food. Where would you like to go?” If this is where lack of communication enters the equation then you need to be creative and utilize that individual’s strengths to communicate with them. In a situation where the individual is really strong in directions, I’ve simply said “tell me where you want to go,” or “point me towards where you want to go.” I’ve used this technique before successfully. And sure enough we ended up in front of Wong’s Chinese Foods restaurant. The restaurant was 5 miles away in the next town, and it has the best eggrolls. Simple techniques like that can lead to great successes.
The key is to learn from the individual what will work and what won’t. Don’t let them get away with having you talk for them, button their buttons, tie their shoes, take the wrapper off, or pick out the bread in the supermarket. If you suspect that they can do something or make a choice, stand back and let them do it. I know this sounds simple but it is often overlooked. Let them do the things they can do on their own, and don’t pressure them, even if you think they can do more than they are doing. Sit back and observe them before commenting or jumping in to help. For example, send an individual to the counter to get a pizza box for the leftover pizza, and see how they do. Let them work it out with the server. And don’t impose your way of doing things onto them because you think your way is better, faster or more efficient. Even if your way IS more efficient, it takes away the opportunity for an individual to exercise their choice.
Let’s say you want to go to one more grocery store and you’ve already visited three stores and the individual is tired. If you tell them what you need, you’ll improve the odds of having a successful shopping trip. Validate them, and let them know you understand how they feel. Saying “I know you’re tired, I know we have gone to three stores and they were crowded. We have one more to go and I appreciate you being here with me,” clearly lets the person know you are taking their feelings into account, as well as exactly what you are asking of them.
In summary, remember, nobody (especially a young adult with autism) likes to be told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I think it’s also important to allow for and encourage exploration. Let them have a role in expanding their world. Give them choices and create opportunities for them to explore new situations. Be reasonable and understanding when you’re communicating.
New Advocacy and Legal Resource
This is a guest post by John Ferguson, partner at Goodwin Procter LLP in New York City and the parent of a child diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Goodwin Procter LLP is an international law firm with over 850 attorneys and 10 offices on the east and west coasts of the United States and in London and Hong Kong.
As parents of a first-grader diagnosed with PDD-NOS, my wife and I have experienced first-hand how critical the resource of knowledge can be in navigating the “system.”
When John LeClaire, a partner in our Boston office whose nephew has autism, approached me with the idea of collaborating on a legal project with Autism Speaks, I was eager to get involved. My wife (who is also an attorney) is a member of Autism Speaks’ 2010 ING New York City Marathon Team and we’d been active volunteers for a few years. This seemed like a great way to leverage our professional expertise to help other families living with autism.
John LeClaire and I learned that Autism Speaks receives calls and emails daily from families who are dealing with challenging legal issues and do not know where to turn for guidance. What we decided to do was to mobilize a team of lawyers at Goodwin Procter LLP to research frequently asked legal questions and develop an online resource of information and contacts for families. We saw this project as an opportunity to share some of our firm’s unique skills and resources in the hope that it helps others in finding answers and support that they may otherwise have missed.
It turned out to be the perfect pro bono project for me to be involved with, as over the years I frequently marveled at the potential for missteps and missed opportunities that comes without the knowledge to understand how to access available support and resources. A group of seven lawyers from Goodwin devoted close to five months working with Autism Speaks’ family services team to prepare the legal information resource kit that will now be available free of charge for download on Autism Speaks’ website.
John LeClaire and I are both very pleased with the results. For John, “this was an exciting opportunity to bring the resources of Goodwin to help with an issue that is close to my and my family’s hearts, and, sadly, of growing consequence and importance to our society.” We hope that the legal resource our firm developed will be helpful to you as you strive to do the best for your children and encourage you to spread the word so that as many families can benefit as possible.
To read more about the information prepared by Goodwin Procter LLP, please visit: www.autismspeaks.org/rights
Family Services provides resources and information. If you have a question, contact the Autism Response Team today. If you’re concerned that your child may be affected with autism or if you’ve received a diagnosis, browse the Tools for Families section, where you’ll find our 100 Day Kit, and the Autism Video Glossary. If you’d like to do a quick search for service providers near you, selectFind a Local Resource and browse the Resource Guide.
In Their Own Words – When Going Downhill is a Good Thing…
This “In Their Own Words” is by Suzanne Lanthier, the Executive Director for Autism Speaks Canada.
When you live in Canada, there are a few things that are a ‘safe bet’. First, any news about hockey will make the first page of our national newspaper (case in point last June when the front page story of the Globe and Mail showcased the winners of the Stanley Cup – which incidentally was side by side with the latest findings in autism genetics research .. the closest Dr. Steven Scherer will ever get to a Stanley Cup!!).
Second safe bet – there will be snow.
This past weekend, Toronto got its first real winter snowfall. My 11-year old son, Scotty, loves the snow. He is mesmerized by the sight of flakes reflecting in the streetlights and can sit and watch this wonder of nature for hours. I keep telling him that if he was out there shoveling it with me, he wouldn’t think it was so fantastic but I’ll let him have his fun… for now.
Scotty’s autism coupled with his clubfoot makes skating really difficult and painful. His grasp of the rules surrounding team sports is limited at best, so hockey is not an activity that I have pushed too hard. But he’s a Canadian and with that comes the need to find an outdoor winter activity that he can embrace. Tobogganing or sledding was something up until a few years ago Scotty quite enjoyed. Until, that is, we had “crash day” – which really just amounted to a minor collision with another younger boy on our local sledding hill. But with “crash day,” Scotty’s love of tobogganing all came to a crashing halt.
From that moment on, anytime tobogganing was mentioned it was met with significant anxiety and “no sled, no sled, no sled, no crash, no crash, no crash” – red face, panic look, heart racing – you get the picture. He still really liked going to the hill and watching the other kids go down the hill and he especially enjoyed pushing his mother down on the sled (oh my aching you-know-what!!), but to get him to go down was a lost cause. Every once in a while, he’d sit on the “boat” – his word for the sled – but that was about all I could get out of him. The slightest move forward was met with him springing off the sled faster than a slapshot coming off of Crosby’s stick.
Until, that is, this past Sunday. We gave it another shot. It was late – about 5 PM – so only a few die-hards left on the hill. I put the “boat” at the top of the smallest incline and waited. It was a spectacular evening – clear, calm, not too cold. The moon (another of Scotty’s favourite things to gaze at in the sky) was out and a beautiful crescent shape. He climbed in and sat down. He saw some kids at the bottom of the hill and promptly rolled out with the same “no crash, no sled” that I’ve heard before. “Oh well, guess its not going to happen” I thought. So I sat and waited for him to push me down as per our usual routine.
Instead, after a few minutes, he got in the “boat” and said “just mom and Scotty” and down we went. It’s hard to know how to react sometimes. Do I cheer and make a big deal about it or just act ‘natural?’ I went with playing it cool. “OK,” I said, “let’s do it again.” And we did – again and again and again.
Scotty is an observer, and he could see that the other kids were going down on their own. So just when I was about to call it a night, he looked up at me from the “boat” and said “just Scotty.” Really?? I made him repeat it a few times until the tone of his voice pretty much said “Listen lady, I’m ready to go down on my own .. don’t make me think about it anymore or I won’t.”
So, down he went – just Scotty – on his own. I admit that I didn’t play it cool after that. I cheered like he scored the overtime goal in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He may as well have.
After a few more runs with “just Scotty” it was really getting dark and we were the only ones left on the hill. We both could have stayed all night but I had to be the ‘mom’ and call it a night.
We went back on Monday night. I got to go down once with him – just once. I may have to buy my own “boat.”
“In Their Own Words” is a series within the Autism Speaks blog which shares the voices of people who have autism, as well as their loved ones. If you have a story you wish to share about your personal experience with autism, please send it to editors@autismspeaks.org. Autism Speaks reserves the right to edit contributions for space, style and content. Because of the volume of submissions, not all can be published on the site.
Love in Action
This Family Services blog was written by a woman inspired by her friend, the grandmother of a young boy with autism.
I sit watching Jeremy always so busy with his repetitive activities while my mind races with thoughts. Oh God, where is the place for an Autistic child in this world? I am at the end of my rope, I don’t know what else to do. I try to be positive and encouraging. I am always helping and seeking ways to make him better. I am so anxious I can’t sleep well at night for thinking about all our dreams for him that won’t come true, what he will not be able to do and ways to change these potential outcomes of his life. As I sadly ponder these thoughts, in my heart I hear these words:
The place for Jeremy is in your heart; it’s in mine. Each of my creations has a unique place in my world, a purpose to be found. Help him find his! Trust me, I will guide you. He was not sent to you to fulfill your worldly dreams. He has come to be a special part of your life.
He has a sweet spirit that lives inside of him, one that can be overshadowed by fear but nurtured by love. Learn to recognize it, see it, savor it and watch Jeremy become what I created him to be. You are loving him the way he was created to be loved, continue.
How can I even use trust and Autism in the same sentence? How can I acknowledge you, God, in Jeremy’s Autism for when I do I’m angry with you for letting it happen! What do I need to know? What good can I do here? If I am loving him they way he was created to be loved, then, Dear God, what can I do differently?
Then I remembered in my thoughts a Bible verse I heard a lot in church as I grew up. “Love is patient, love is kind…love always hopes, always trusts, always protects and always perseveres.” I hear words again in my heart:
To care for Jeremy, to make a safe place for him, and to provide what you can is one of the most life-giving, life-receiving things you can do. For this is love in action. Now, let my love nourish you as your love nourishes Jeremy.
After I hear these words I remember something else from the Bible…. “Be not anxious for anything but in prayer and thanksgiving make your requests known to God and the peace of God will guard your heart . . .”
While these thoughts are in my mind, I have been watching Jeremy line up his trucks. As if on cue, he looks up at me and gives me one of those rare, beautiful smiles. I think from my heart Thank You!
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Family Services provides resources and information. If you have a question, contact the Autism Response Team today. If you’re concerned that your child may be affected with autism or if you’ve received a diagnosis, browse the Tools for Families section, where you’ll find our 100 Day Kit, and the Autism Video Glossary. If you’d like to do a quick search for service providers near you, select Find a Local Resource and browse the Resource Guide.
The Outdoors for All Foundation
This blog post is from Ed Bronson, the Executive Director of The Outdoors for All Foundation, the recipient of an Autism Speaks Family Services Community Grant in 2009. The 2011 grant recipients were announced this week.
The Outdoors for All Foundation is a Pacific Northwest based nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the quality of life for children and adults with disabilities through outdoor recreation. In 2009, Outdoors for All received a generous grant from Autism Speaks to help deliver “expanded outdoor recreation experiences customized for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.”
In order to serve the multi-sensory needs and varying social abilities of this population, our project consisted of:
- Funding for a consultant with autism expertise to train staff and volunteers who work regularly with our participants, and help in some program design for new and existing programs.
- Funding for a behavioral aide to join the staff of our day camp program and other year round programs.
These resources improved the quality of our services for those on the autism spectrum—which comprise over 60% of our day camp population. The project increased the skills of our staff and volunteers to help participants regulate their sensory needs so that they could learn and enjoy outdoor recreation. These resources also increased our capacity to serve more participants with autism.
When asked about our program, Crystal Goetz, mother of camper Carl Goetz, responded:
“Outdoors for All has made our son feel included in life. Outdoors for All empowers him and makes him feel like he is capable and strong. Not different or disabled. He has always come back smiling and happy from his outings with Outdoors for All. Whether it’s skiing or day camps the people of Outdoors for All have made Carl’s experience one he can’t wait for year after year. We feel good letting him go with the caring staff, because they make him feel welcome and safe. We don’t have to worry waiting at home for him either, because we know that safety is a top priority. We have recommended Outdoors for All every time someone asks us for a good recreation program for kids and teens with autism. Thank you Outdoors for All for giving our son the time of his life.”
We were thrilled to partner with Autism Speaks in 2009 to increase Outdoors for All’s awareness and proficiency and serving children and adults with ASD. We look forward to partnering with Autism Speaks in the future as we continue to enhance our offerings for this underserved community.
For a list of this year’s Family Services Community Grants recipients, visit www.autismspeaks.org//community/family_services/grants_2011.php.
Family Services provides resources and information. If you have a question, contact the Autism Response Team today. If you’re concerned that your child may be affected with autism or if you’ve received a diagnosis, browse the Tools for Families section, where you’ll find our 100 Day Kit, and the Autism Video Glossary. If you’d like to do a quick search for service providers near you, select Find a Local Resource and browse the Resource Guide.
Advice for Maintaining Relationships and Staying Connected
We are so thankful for the outpouring of advice that has flooded in for us to share with the Autism Speaks Community. Who better to give advice than you all, the people that know best! We have heard from people on the autism spectrum, parents, siblings, teachers, therapists, and beyond. Your advice has been broken down into categories, and we will post accordingly!
Having a child on the spectrum can feel isolating enough. Don’t be afraid to tell people about your child. Everybody knows someone touched by Autism or Asperger’s! You never know how you might help someone else by simply opening the door. -Heather
As a sibling of someone with autism, the best advice that I could give is to teach the other children or child in your family what autism is and how to be the best support and role model for their sibling with the diagnosis. Ultimately, they can be a wonderful teacher, peer model and friend to your child as they grow up into adulthood and contribute to keeping the family strong through this journey. – Elif
Being a sibling to an Autistic child, especially being the only and oldest (such as myself) I recognize the importance of family relationships. Be honest and involve siblings with all decisions. Offer lots of private time because they do lose out on experiences when bringing an Autistic child to places such as Disney or even having friends over are too stressful. Be upfront about the responsibilities we will someday face but be cautious. I realized at 12 that someday my parents will be gone but small steps ease this realization. An open dialogue and allowing siblings to have a passion or hobby they can be immersed in is helpful. You may sense resentment at times and things may be said but never doubt that we love our siblings and will do anything for them. –Natalie
When our grandson comes to us after school feeling fried and close to a meltdown, I take him aside in a peaceful spot and just hug and hold him and let him know how much I love him. He comes around quickly and is happy again. –Donna
These children require a lot of attention every day but with the help of their parents, schools and professionals they can have a successful life. We are all in it together. –Rebecca
Remember to take time for yourself. A happy, healthy mom or dad is so important for any child, especially one on the spectrum. It’s usually you and your kids against the world, so take care of yourself, so you can take care of them. –Sarah
Don’t treat it like the end of the world, because it is not! It will always get better and easier with the help of family and friends. –Erin
It is not the end of the world. As our world was turned upside down I remember asking myself “why” “why us” where did we go wrong, what could we have done different. The truth of the matter is there is nothing that we could have done different; there is nothing we could have done to prevent this from happening to our daughter. Get together with parents in your community with ASD children and talk, cry, laugh share stores find someone on line that you can connect with DO NOT TRY TO DO IT ALL ALONE!!! –Katie
