New Challenges

While there may be some sense of relief in having professionals confirm your growing suspicions that something is different about your child, finding out that a child has a developmental disability is never easy. Parents, when they are finally given a diagnosis for their child, usually experience a range of emotions including fear for their child's well being and sometimes a sense of loss about the future they had envisioned for their child. However, having a proper diagnosis can provide some sense of relief because it allows parents and caregivers to finally seek out the appropriate services for their child.

Stress levels can be very high in many families affected by ASDs. Parents and caregivers of a child or children diagnosed with autism or another ASD often feel overwhelmed by:

• Needing to become an expert - educating self and others throughout the child's life - understanding the complex psychological, medical and social needs of the child
  
  
• Trying to find and access necessary services, effective treatments and supports
  
  
• Facing challenges and conflicts in educational settings
  
  
• Dealing with numerous health professionals and other service providers
  
  
• Coping with an added financial burden
  
  
• Social isolation. Living with a child with autism often means an end to entertaining at home and accepting invitations to others' homes can be difficult
  
  
• Altering the living environment
  
  
• No time left for other children or to take part in their usual social and recreational activities
  
  
• Dealing with discrimination as the parent/caregiver of the ASD child, i.e., other parents being reluctant to accept play invitations, etc.
  
  
• Helping their child deal with bullying, discrimination, prejudice while fostering their self-esteem and their unique abilities
   
• Living with adult children at home
  
  
• Stressed family relationships - shortage of time and energy
  
  
• Supporting children who have suicidal thoughts and other serious mental health issues
  
  
• Sometimes facing despair, depression and suicidal thoughts themselves
  

Types of Services

The kinds of services families may need to seek out in order to increase their own capacity to cope and in order to begin to advocate for their loved-one include:

• Relationship and parenting counselling for couples
  
  
• Individual counselling
  
  
• Family counselling
  
  
• Stress reduction programs
  
  
• Caregiver assistance, respite care and summer/holiday programming
  
  
• Parent/caregiver discussion forums and support groups
  
  
• Parent/caregiver education and skills building
  
  
• Training in treatment techniques
  
  
• Funding and financial advice
  

ASC considers parents and caregivers who are responsible for children with ASDs to be a vital part of the autism community when dealing with issues related to ASD treatment, funding and service provision.  Many parents/caregivers of children with ASDs have developed considerable expertise about autism. Their first-hand knowledge of the needs and realities of life for their children with autism has made them strong and compassionate educators and advocates for the rights of all children and adults with autism.

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