As a longtime educator of children with autism, I have witnessed first-hand the trying ordeal faced by families coming to grips with their child’s autism diagnosis. About 1 in 110 children in the United States is now diagnosed with autism, and research indicates that this number is steadily rising. So how does a parent deal with the shock of learning their child has autism? I’d be either lying or performing an injustice if I claimed to have the “right” answer to this. Instead, I hope to shed some light on the subject by answering a different, albeit slightly broader question: Now what?
Try Not to Blame Yourself
No one knows what causes autism, but one thing is for certain: the risk is simply unavoidable. Scientists believe that genetics play at least some role, but currently no tests exist to evaluate your child’s risk. You can also take comfort in the fact that all the hype over vaccinations turned out to be just that: hype. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is not enough evidence to prove any correlation between vaccines and autism.
It is quite common to experience a flood of different feelings and emotions after your child receives a diagnosis of autism. Accept these feelings instead of questioning them, and consider talking to a trained therapist or psychologist if you think your emotions are getting the better of you.
Gather the Facts
Talk to doctors, psychiatrists, educators, and anyone else knowledgeable in the field. Educating yourself will help you sort out fact from fiction, and enable you to narrow your focus. Gain insight from other families who have gone through this before. Websites like autismweb.com are useful portals to a wealth of information, and allow you to connect to other families of children with autism and join discussions through message boards and forums. No matter how overwhelming it may seem, trust in the fact that there are countless individuals and groups that offer support; this is not something that you need to go through alone.
Early Intervention is Key
There is no “cure” for autism, but it certainly doesn’t carry the same social stigma as it once did, and children with autism are leading far richer lives than once thought possible. With early intervention programs like Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), children can improve language and social skills, develop self help skills, and lead joyful, productive lives. In the years I have been involved at an ABA program, I can proudly say that we have taught young children to express themselves through language, helped teenagers participate in religious sacraments like First Holy Communions, and prepared adults to hold down full-time jobs in the community. While it is a lifelong developmental disorder, autism no longer carries with it the assumed limitations it once did.
Sources: Autism Speaks
Personal experience as an educator