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REACH for a
Difference
* Organization
for community members, individuals and families on the autism spectrum.
*Meets the first Tuesday of
each month from 6-7:30 p.m.
*United Way of Abilene
Building
240 Cypress St.
upstairs on the left as you
enter bldg.
*Come and experience: Resources, Education, Awareness and Hope.
*Refreshments provided.
*For more information
Autism Speaks ~About Our Organization Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention and treatments for autism, and to advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. It was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is Senior Advisor at Lee Equity Partners and served as vice chairman, General Electric, and chief executive officer of NBC for more than twenty years. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org. Walk Now for Autism Speaks Autism Speaks is proud of our signature fundraising event which brings together hundreds of thousands of participants annually across the United States and Canada with a common goal of supporting Autism Speaks. This change strengthens the marketing efforts around the Walk program by more directly branding the walks with our name, effectively eliminating any confusion with other autism walks around the world. Powered by volunteers and families with loved ones on the autism spectrum, this successful grassroots fundraising effort not only generates vital funds for autism research but also raises awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism and the need for increased research funding to combat this complex disorder. www.walknowforautismspeaks.org
REACH
t-shirts are in and will be available 6-7:30 April 4th at the
United Way at our monthly meeting. T-shirts are $20 and proceeds will be
donated on April 14th at the Walk for Autism-Abilene Zoo. The walk
begins at 9am and you can find us at the REACH for a Difference booth.
At
our April meeting we will be getting to know one another and sharing
challenges and success shared by families on the autism spectrum. If you have
information or a story to share we would love to have you and if you don’t
please come and support the members that have come to find comfort and
support. Everyone is welcome!
--Sara
Collins~President/CEO
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The Importance of Parental Support Groups
By Kyle
Raising any child is a daunting task, even as
enjoyable of an experience as parenting can be. But caring for an
autistic child can be more than overwhelming. You might feel guilty, as
if there was something you could have done differently to prevent it; or, you
might feel remorseful, wishing that there was more you could do now to help
your child progress. No matter what you may feel, there is no reason you
should carry the load alone. Whether you are happily married or going
through it solo and raising your child by yourself, there are resources out
there to help you cope with the difficulties of raising your autistic child.
Parental support groups are integral in
keeping your mind as a parent sound. At these support groups, you will
meet other parents experiencing similar struggles and emotions. You can
be as open as you wish at these meetings without having to fear judgment or
scrutiny. As you open up with the other parents at the support group and
begin to form long lasting relationships with these people, you will begin to
build a team of friends around you who understand your circumstances and will
be able to help you through your most dire and dark moments.
Attending these support groups will not only
allow you to share your experiences with other parents, but you will also be
afforded the opportunity to exchange therapy ideas and methods, find out about
new programs that might help you and your child, and receive advice about how
you and your child can cope and live with this disorder. Moreover, as you
get to know the other parents, you can always introduce your children to one
another and, if they feel comfortable enough, help them become friends.
If your autistic child exhibits behaviors
that you just don’t understand and you don’t know what to do, attending these
support groups will give you the knowledge you need in order to fully
understand your child’s behavior and what you can do to help them through
it. If you are interested in how autism will affect your child’s
adolescence and teen years and you want to be prepared to help them cope,
parental support groups will offer up stories and experiences to help you
answer those questions. There is an endless array of parental support
groups that meet to discuss various topics, and you can choose a group to
attend according to your specific needs.
The most important reason to attend one of
these parental support groups is for your sanity. Raising an autistic
child is trying and you need to remain balanced and mentally sound in order to
adequately care for your child. If mom and dad can’t cope, there is
nothing you can do to help your child cope. So in addition to receiving
all the information and advice you will ever need, these groups are here to
help you help yourself for the betterment of your child.
http://www.autismlearningfelt.com/2010/08/the-importance-of-parental-support-groups.html
Helping Children with Autism
Autism Treatment Strategies and Parenting
Tips
There are many things parents can do to help
children with autism overcome their challenges and get the most of life. From
learning all you can about autism spectrum disorders to getting your child into
treatment right away, you can make a big difference.
It’s also important to make sure you get the
support you need. When you’re looking after a child with autism, taking care of
yourself is not an act of selfishness—it’s a necessity. Being emotionally
strong allows you to be the best parent you can be to your child in need. Read
on to learn how to choose effective treatments for your child, and where to
look for support. Plus, you’ll also find parenting tips to help make daily home
life with an autistic kid easier.
In This Article:
- A parent’s guide
- Structure and safety
- Nonverbal ways to connect
- Personalized treatment plan
- Find help and support
- Free government services
- Related articles &
resources
If you've recently learned that your child
has or might have an autism spectrum disorder, you're probably wondering and
worrying about what comes next. No parent is ever prepared to hear that a child
is anything other than happy and healthy, and a diagnosis of autism can be
particularly frightening. You may be unsure about how to best help your child
or confused by conflicting treatment advice. Or you may have been told that
autism is an incurable, lifelong condition, leaving you concerned that nothing
you do will make a difference.
While it is true that autism is not something
a person simply "grows out of," there are many treatments that can
help children learn new skills and overcome a wide variety of developmental
challenges. From free government services to in-home behavioral therapy and
school-based programs, assistance is available to meet your child's special
needs. With the right treatment plan, and a lot of love and support, your child
can learn, grow, and thrive.
Don’t wait for a diagnosis
As the parent of a child with autism or
related developmental delays, the best thing you can do is to start treatment
right away. Seek help as soon as you suspect something’s wrong. Don't wait
to see if your child will catch up later or outgrow the problem. Don't even
wait for an official diagnosis. The earlier children with autism spectrum
disorders get help, the greater their chance of treatment success. Early
intervention is the most effective way to speed up your child's development and
reduce the symptoms of autism.
When your child has autism: Tips for parents
- Learn about autism. The more you know about
autism spectrum disorders, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed
decisions for your child. Educate yourself about the treatment options,
ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions.
- Become an expert on your child. Figure out what triggers your
kid’s “bad” or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response.
What does your autistic child find stressful? Calming? Uncomfortable?
Enjoyable? If you understand what affects your child, you’ll be better at
troubleshooting problems and preventing situations that cause
difficulties.
- Accept your child, quirks and all. Rather than focusing on how
your autistic child is different from other children and what he or she is
“missing,” practice acceptance. Enjoy your kid’s special quirks, celebrate
small successes, and stop comparing your child to others. Feeling
unconditionally loved and accepted will help your child more than anything
else.
- Don’t give up. It’s impossible to predict
the course of an autism spectrum disorder. Don’t jump to conclusions about
what life is going to be like for your child. Like everyone else, people
with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.
Learning all you can about autism and getting
involved in treatment will go a long way toward helping your child.
Additionally, the following tips will make daily home life easier for both you
and your autistic child:
- Be consistent. Children with autism have a
hard time adapting what they’ve learned in one setting (such as the
therapist’s office or school) to others, including the home. For example,
your child may use sign language at school to communicate, but never think
to do so at home. Creating consistency in your child’s environment is the
best way to reinforce learning. Find out what your child’s therapists are
doing and continue their techniques at home. Explore the possibility of
having therapy take place in more than one place in order to encourage
your child to transfer what he or she has learned from one environment to
another. It’s also important to be consistent in the way you interact with
your child and deal with challenging behaviors.
- Stick to a schedule. Children with autism tend to
do best when they have a highly-structured schedule or routine. Again,
this goes back to the consistency they both need and crave. Set up a
schedule for your child, with regular times for meals, therapy, school,
and bedtime. Try to keep disruptions to this routine to a minimum. If
there is an unavoidable schedule change, prepare your child for it in
advance.
- Reward good behavior. Positive reinforcement can go
a long way with children with autism, so make an effort to “catch them
doing something good.” Praise them when they act appropriately or learn a
new skill, being very specific about what behavior they’re being praised
for. Also look for other ways to reward them for good behavior, such as
giving them a sticker or letting them play with a favorite toy.
- Create a home safety zone. Carve out a private space in
your home where your child can relax, feel secure, and be safe. This will
involve organizing and setting boundaries in ways your child can
understand. Visual cues can be helpful (colored tape marking areas that
are off limits, labeling items in the house with pictures). You may also
need to safety proof the house, particularly if your child is prone to
tantrums or other self-injurious behaviors.
Connecting with a child with autism can be
challenging, but you don’t need to talk in order to communicate and bond. You
communicate by the way you look at your child, the way you touch him or her,
and by the tone of your voice and your body language. Your child is also
communicating with you, even if he or she never speaks. You just need to learn
the language.
- Look for nonverbal cues. If you are observant and
aware, you can learn to pick up on the nonverbal cues that children with
autism use to communicate. Pay attention to the kinds of sounds they make,
their facial expressions, and the gestures they use when they’re tired,
hungry, or want something.
- Figure out the need behind the tantrum. It’s only natural to feel
upset when you are misunderstood or ignored, and it’s no different for
children with autism. When children with autism act out, it’s often
because you’re not picking up on their nonverbal cues. Throwing a tantrum
is their way communicating their frustration and getting your attention.
- Make time for fun. A child coping with autism is
still a kid. For both children with autism and their parents, there needs
to be more to life than therapy. Schedule playtime when your child is most
alert and awake. Figure out ways to have fun together by thinking about
the things that make your child smile, laugh, and come out of their shell.
Your child is likely to enjoy these activities most if they don’t seem
therapeutic or educational. There are tremendous benefits that result from
your enjoyment of your child’s company and from your child’s enjoyment of
spending unpressured time with you. Play is an essential part of
learning and shouldn’t feel like work.
- Pay attention to your child’s sensory
sensitivities. Many children with autism are hypersensitive to
light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Other children with autism are
“under-sensitive” to sensory stimuli. Figure out what sights, sounds,
smells, movements, and tactile sensations trigger your kid’s “bad” or
disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. What does your
autistic child find stressful? Calming? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable? If you
understand what affects your child, you’ll be better at troubleshooting
problems, preventing situations that cause difficulties, and creating
successful experiences.
With so many different autism treatments
available, and it can be tough to figure out which approach is right for your
child. Making things more complicated, you may hear different or even
conflicting recommendations from parents and doctors. When putting together an
autism treatment plan for your child, keep in mind that there is no single
treatment that will work for everyone. Each person on the autism spectrum is
unique, with different strengths and weaknesses.
Your child’s treatment should be tailored according to his or her individual
needs. You know your child best, so it’s up to you to make sure those needs are
being met.
You can do that by asking yourself the following questions:
A good autism treatment plan will:
- Build on your child's interests.
- Offer a predictable schedule.
- Teach tasks as a series of simple steps.
- Actively engage your child's attention in highly
structured activities.
- Provide regular reinforcement of behavior.
Involve the parents.
Source: National Institute of Mental
Health
- What are my child’s strengths?
- What are my child’s weaknesses?
- What behaviors are causing the most problems?
- What important skills is my child lacking?
- How does my child learn best (through seeing,
listening, or doing)?
- What does my child enjoy and how can those
activities be used in treatment?
Finally, keep in mind that no matter what
autism treatment plan is chosen, your involvement is vital to success. You can
help your child get the most out of treatment by working hand-in-hand with the
autism treatment team and following through with the therapy at home.
Choosing autism treatments
When it comes to autism treatment, there are
a dizzying variety of therapies and approaches. Some autism therapies focus on
reducing problematic behaviors and building communication and social skills,
while others deal with sensory integration problems, motor skills, emotional
issues, and food sensitivities.
With so many choices, it is extremely
important to do your research, talk to autism treatment experts, and ask questions.
But keep in mind that you don't have to choose just one type of therapy. The
goal of autism treatment should be to treat all of your child's symptoms and
needs. This often requires a combined treatment approach that takes advantage
of many different types of therapy.
Common autism treatments include behavior
therapy, speech-language therapy, play-based therapy, physical therapy,
occupational therapy, and nutritional therapy.
Caring for a child with an autism spectrum
disorder can demand a lot of energy and time. There may be days when you feel
overwhelmed, stressed, or discouraged. Parenting isn’t ever easy, and raising a
child with special needs is even more challenging. In order to be the best
parent you can be, it’s essential that you take care of yourself.
Don’t try to do everything on your own. You
don’t have to! There are many places that families of autistic kids can turn to
for advice, a helping hand, advocacy, and support:
- Autism support groups – Joining an autism support
group is a great way to meet other families dealing with the same
challenges you are. Parents can share information, get advice, and lean on
each other for emotional support. Just being around others in the same
boat and sharing their experience can go a long way toward reducing the
isolation many parents feel after receiving a child’s autism diagnosis.
- Respite care – Every parent needs a break
now and again. And for parents coping with the added stress of autism, this
is especially true. In respite care, another caregiver takes over
temporarily, giving you a break for a few hours, days, or even weeks. To
find respite care options in your area, see the box to the right.
- Individual, marital, or family counseling – If stress, anxiety, or
depression is getting to you, you may want to see a therapist of your own.
Therapy is a safe place where you can talk honestly about everything
you’re feeling—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Marriage or family therapy
can also help you work out problems that the challenges of life with an
autistic child are causing in your spousal relationship or with other
family members.
Under the U.S. federal law known as the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children with
disabilities—including those with autism spectrum disorders—are eligible for a
range of free or low-cost services. Under this provision, children in need and
their families may receive medical evaluations, psychological services, speech
therapy, physical therapy, parent counseling and training, assisted technology
devices, and other specialized services.
Children under the age of 10 do not need an
autism diagnosis to receive free services under IDEA. If they are experiencing
a developmental delay (including delays in communication or social
development), they are automatically eligible for early intervention and
special education services.
Early intervention services (birth through
age two)
Infants and toddlers through the age of two
receive assistance through the Early Intervention program. In order to qualify,
your child must first undergo a free evaluation. If the assessment reveals a
developmental problem, you will work with early intervention treatment
providers to develop an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). An IFSP
describes your child’s needs and the specific services he or she will receive.
For autism, an IFSP would include a variety
of behavior, physical, speech, and play therapies. It would focus on preparing
autistic kids for the eventual transition to school. Early intervention
services are typically conducted in the home or at a child care center.
To locate local early intervention services
for your child, ask your pediatrician for a referral or use the resources
listed in the box to the right.
Special education services (age three and
older)
Children
over the age of three receive assistance through school-based programs. As with
early intervention, special education services are tailored to your child’s
individual needs. Children with autism spectrum disorders are often placed with
other developmentally-delayed kids in small groups where they can receive more
individual attention and specialized instruction. However, depending on their
abilities, they may also spend at least part of the school day in a regular
classroom. The goal is to place kids in the least restrictive environment
possible where they are still able to learn.
If you’d like to pursue special education services,
your local school system will first need to evaluate your child. Based on this
assessment, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) will be created. An IEP
outlines the educational goals for your child for the school year.
Additionally, it describes the special services or aids the school will provide
your child in order to meet those goals.
Know your child’s rights
As the parent of an autistic child, you have
a legal right to:
- Be involved in developing your child’s IEP from
start to finish.
- Disagree with the school system’s recommendations.
- Seek an outside evaluation for your child.
- Invite anyone you want—from a relative to your
child’s doctor—to be on the IEP team.
- Request an IEP meeting at any time if you feel your
child’s needs are not being met.
- Free or low-cost legal representation if you can’t
come to an agreement with the school.
100 Day Kit
The
Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit [1] and the Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Tool Kit [2] were
created specifically for newly diagnosed families to make the best possible use
of the 100 days following their child's diagnosis of autism or AS/HFA.
Download the 100 Day Kit
anyone can download the 100 Day Kit for free! You can also view a web-version of each section by clicking on the links below. PDF files are available on each site. Click here [3] to download the entire kit.
Download the 100 Day Kit
anyone can download the 100 Day Kit for free! You can also view a web-version of each section by clicking on the links below. PDF files are available on each site. Click here [3] to download the entire kit.
100 Day Kit Sections
Autism Diagnosis, Causes and Symptoms [4]
Family Tips: Sharing, Caring and the Future [5]
Early Intervention and Education Rights [6]
Information on Therapies and Treatments [7]
Assembling and Managing Your Team [8]
10 Things Your Child Wishes You Knew [9]
Resources by Topic [10]
Action Plan for the Next 100 Days [11]
Safety Tips [12]
Useful Forms [13]
Glossary [14]
Autism Diagnosis, Causes and Symptoms [4]
Family Tips: Sharing, Caring and the Future [5]
Early Intervention and Education Rights [6]
Information on Therapies and Treatments [7]
Assembling and Managing Your Team [8]
10 Things Your Child Wishes You Knew [9]
Resources by Topic [10]
Action Plan for the Next 100 Days [11]
Safety Tips [12]
Useful Forms [13]
Glossary [14]
Request A 100 Day Kit
Families whose children have been diagnosed in the last 6 months may request a complimentary hard copy of the 100 Day Kit or the AS/HFA Tool Kit by calling 888-AUTISM2 888-AUTISM2 (888-288-4762 888-288-4762 ) and speaking with an Autism Response Team Coordinator. *Note: We are unable to ship kits internationally.
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