So tomorrow, apparently we are being urged to steer clear of Twitter and Facebook in a Communication Shutdown. This idea is made with such good intent, I can tell, but I cant help but think it’s a little counter-productive. Autistic children (and adults) often struggle to communicate. So don’t shut down communication to support them. Donate, sure, but be sure to tell everyone why, how and where!
Instead, I will be on Twitter and Facebook, as usual, posting links to resources, information, and answering any questions that come my way about autism.
I am not an expert, by any means, but I am a parent of an autistic child.
W was diagnosed when he was 4. Some think that’s ‘late’, but to us it was all very overwhelming to absorb so many potential ‘what if’scenarios all at once. But we had amazing caregivers; a GP, a peadiatrician, a psychologist specialising in ASD, a speech pathologist, teachers, and aides. As a result, we have an incredibly happy, settled and creative young boy.
There was a time, though, when he wasn’t verbal. He would not make eye contact with us, would not communicate more than a frustrated cry, scream, pointing and babbling. He was impossible to toilet train. I had to delay preschool once, twice, and almost a third time. We didn’t even know if he would be able to attend a ‘normal’ school – something that frightened me, thinking that this would set him back even further. Luckily this wasnt the case, and he is happily attending the same school as his sisters.
I knew there was something different about him, from birth, but my method of parenting meant that we went with the flow, and trusted that the answers would come when we were ready. He had more urgent medical needs as a baby.
Today, W is an eloquent, clever, smart, communicative, emotional boy. He’s seriously into comic books, sci fi, tv, and Lego. Seriously, mega into Lego. He is horribly arachnophobic, hates fresh tomato, but eats his vegies raw. He would happily douse any dinner in ketchup, and knows more trivia about Dr Who than most of the planet. He has a wicked sense of humour, even if we dont all understand the punchlines. He makes, and keeps, friendships. He can now recognise and respond to others emotions. He can self-regulate, and minimise his anxieties.
So, there is light at the end of the tunnel, I am sure of it. We have many challenges that lay ahead, I am sure, but I am feeling positive about it.
So my first linkspam is this: Autism Victoria. Some people say YAY, some people poopoo them. But no matter what, they have a killer resource library. It was from here that I borrowed a book that changed our lives: The Dragons of Autism by Olga Holland.
Autism Victoria’s website is well worth a look, no matter where you live. It even has a plethora of great linkage.
So please, tomorrow, spend a little time reading. Spend a moment donating, where ever you feel it’s needed most. And if you know another parent or carer of an autistic child, please reach out and talk with them. They probably dont want to hear that ‘you know how they feel’ or ‘it will get better*’, they just need an ear to listen. The diagnosis process is scary, and the future even scarier.
*But it gets better, it really does.
