AUTISM ADVOCACY
Welcome to The Special Needs
Parent Club
By Deanna PICON
The other day, I was reading a People magazine article about actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus
and her battle with breast cancer. Fortunately, she’s in recovery and getting back to
her normal life. But what struck me most about her article were these comments: “I
can’t say it’s a club I ever really wanted to be a part of, but now that I am part of it,
I’m delighted to help those who need help…That’s a huge silver lining to all of this
horribleness.”
A
s I put the magazine away, I thought of other
celebrities, family members, and friends who
have dealt with serious illnesses like pros-
tate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Then, I
thought about people like you and me: par-
ents of children with special needs.
That’s when I realized something profound. We all be-
long to “clubs” that none of us asked to join. Whether
we like it or not, all special needs parents have life-
time memberships!
So, as a veteran of The Special Needs Parent Club, wel-
come to our new members—the parents of newly
diagnosed children. In the spirit of Julia’s commit-
ment to helping others, here’s some advice to help
you adjust to club membership.
1. Remember, you’re not the only one
Keep in mind, you are not alone, even though
it can feel like you’re the only one in the world
dealing with a child’s disability.
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 87 |
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