A Parent’s Guide to Navigating the Autism Spectrum Disorder
For a child, receiving support from their parents is crucial at any point in their life. This is no different for someone living on the spectrum. In fact, it is even more important to provide the right kind of support for a child with ASD as the disorder is often accompanied by conditions that may impact their perception and quality of life. However, taking a step towards the right direction can be tough because support can never really be generalized and is often specifically curated to the child with ASD.
Many parents are unaware of how to successfully aid their children through the difficulties they may face, which might seem terrifying. As a parent, caregiver, or any impactful adult in a child’s life, it is natural to be concerned about their future. Being responsible for their health and well-being can incur a lot of pressure on the parents’ side due to the high stakes. To make the support process as easy as possible, we have compiled some general steps you should take to ensure your child is receiving the right kind of support.
Before advancing any further, it is important to understand the disorder and specific symptoms that your child may possess beyond a simple diagnosis. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects the neurological and cognitive developments pertaining to a child. It is a wide spectrum, meaning the effects of the disorder may be drastically different depending on the child. Still, one of the most common effects of the disorder is a deficiency in social cognition. This causes them to find difficulty in interacting with and relating to others. Yes, you might be crushed at your child’s seemingly unwillingness to talk to you, but you must be extra patient with them. It is essential that your child feels understood.
At home, try setting up schedules that are consistent every day as children with ASD prefer and are more responsive to fixed and structured schedules. It is also important to make sure that your home is safe and protected, creating a secure place for your child to freely explore. Additionally, try to spend more quality time with them, just like how you would with any other child. Many children with ASD are persistent in wanting to partake in activities that are specifically of interest to them, making it difficult to gather their attention and shift it towards something else. Therefore, it is extremely beneficial to actively engage your child’s attention in highly structured activities that will help build their special attention spans. We know that accepting your child as anything but perfectly healthy is difficult. Nevertheless, you must let them know that you accept the fact that autism is their normal, even if they are different from their peers.
Now that you know how to support your child from home, you should utilize outside resources as soon as possible. Making sure that your child is getting enough support at a young age is crucial because of how many neural pathways are formed when they’re young. As they get older, more of the pathways within their brain are set in stone, making it harder for them to overcome developmental difficulties. With so many additional resources and support available, you must find and prioritize the ones that your child will benefit from the most. It might be helpful to list out skills your child particularly struggles with, what they enjoy, and how they learn best. Then, explore that area, whether that’s finding therapists and other healthcare workers, or finding communities of other peers for you and your child to connect to. This process can be extremely difficult and time-consuming. Luckily, we as the Children & Youth Autism Society have compiled a variety of resources and steps you can take to find support and even funding for your child, which can be especially helpful because of how expensive caring for a child with a disability could become. This non-exhausted selection of resources is carefully listed for every province in Canada, all of which are available on our website.
Even with the aforementioned collection of online resources, parenting a child with ASD is tough, and it is alright to hold a constant worry for your child and wonder if you are doing everything right. As the global community continues to learn more about the condition through constant endeavors, we will hopefully reach a point where parents don’t have to search hours and hours for the right kind of support for their child. At the end of the day, we understand that parenting is hard and that parenting a child with a developmental disability is even harder. Remember, every step you take in supporting your child with ASD, no matter how small, makes a significant difference in their journey towards a fulfilling and enriched life.
References
Autism Canada. (2020, July). Autism Explained - Autism Canada. Autism Canada.
https://autismcanada.org/autism-explained/
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023, February). Autism spectrum disorder. National
Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-asd
Smith, M., Segal, J., & Hutman, T. (2019, March 20). Helping Your Child with Autism Thrive.
HelpGuide.org. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism-learning-disabilities/helping-your-child-with-autism-thrive.htm
University of Rochester Medical Center. (2019). Interacting with a Child Who Has Autism
Spectrum Disorder - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center. Rochester.edu. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=160&contentid=46
Villano, M. (2023, April 12). What is autism? An expert explains. CNN.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/12/health/what-is-autism-explainer-wellness/index.html
