AUTISM ADVOCACY
for the condition, and viewing the disability as
just another aspect of your lives together.
Don’t let your child’s diagnosis stop you from
seeing the person behind the disability and
loving him/her unconditionally.
And instead of focusing on what your child can-
not do, think about what he/she can do. Look
for the special qualities and the little things
that bring him/her comfort or happiness.
5. Don’t isolate yourself
Special needs parents often feel lonely in their
journeys. But it’s important to remember you
don’t have to be alone. You have family and
friends who care about you. Their support can
help you make it through the hard days, aid
you in making good decisions, and provide
the physical and emotional breaks we all need
now and then. Don’t shut these people out of
your life, and don’t shut yourself in either.
Be sure you spend time with people who make
you feel at ease. If certain friends or family mem-
bers make you uncomfortable by staring, making
remarks, or overreacting to your child’s behavior,
don’t associate with them. Maintain positive rela-
tionships with those who understand your child’s
condition and support your family.
6.
Seek help when you need it
There will be times when all the challenges and
stress get on top of you, and you just need an ex-
tra pair of hands to help you through it. There’s
no shame in asking for and accepting help
from family and friends. Contrary to popular
belief, it’s not a sign of weakness. It’s actually
a sign of strength and courage to share your
needs with others.
So call your sister and ask her to watch your
child for a few hours so you can have some
“personal time.” And your best friend won’t
mind picking up some groceries from the su-
permarket for you.
7. Don’t place yourself
on the backburner
With most of your attention and time focused
on your child, it’s easy to forget about your
own needs. But it’s important to take care of
yourself. After all, if you don’t, who will? Try to
get at least six hours of sleep a night, eat prop-
erly, and exercise.
8. Remember no one has a perfect life
There’s no getting around this. Your child’s
condition has changed your life. But nobody
gets the life he/she expected. Everybody, with
or without a special needs child in their lives,
ends up in a place they didn’t expect and do-
ing things they never thought they would.
The trick is to do the best with the life you have.
With the right perspective and a good support
system, you will have a good life, and so will
your whole family.
Membership has wonderful benefits
Even though my husband and I reluctantly joined
The Special Needs Parent Club, we were pleasantly
surprised by what we found. There were amazing
parents who welcomed us, from sharing advice on
handling a child’s meltdown to simply lending a
sympathetic ear. And we were happy to learn that
the club has a variety of members. We met pediatri-
cians, teachers, therapists, and other professionals
who wanted to partner with and help parents give
their children the best lives possible.
Like you, we’re members for life. I hope that, like us,
you will become all the stronger for embracing that
membership.
Deanna Picon is the founder of Your Autism Coach,
LLC, which provides personalized guidance, com-
prehensive support programs, and seminars for
parents of special needs children. Her personal
mission is to empower parents as they advocate
for their children while balancing productive work
and family lives. She received her BAs in psychology
and broadcast journalism from Syracuse Universi-
ty. Deanna is a parent of a nonverbal young man
with autism. She is the author of The Autism Par-
ents’ Guide to Reclaiming Your Life, available from
Amazon and through her website.
Website: www.yourautismcoach.com
Email: [email protected]
Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 87 |
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