Helping your child with Autism

If your child has been diagnosed recently with autism spectrum disorder, then there are a few things you should have in mind before any steps that you´re about to follow next.

First of all, make sure you know what Autism is.

Make yourself familiar with some characteristics that Autism presents and give yourself time to understand it.

As always and as at any developing stage, you need to understand how things work, yourself, your partner, your family and your child that has been diagnosed.

It’s not only the parents that need to understand so many new things, to accept and to process, but also the children that have been diagnosed.

Ask for help. Don´t feel ashamed to ask for help. Lots of different professionals and therapists are specialized and can help you and your family to face a new reality.

Having Autism is something unique and beautiful. Trust me!

Although it´s very tricky as new challenges appear. Especially the ones that you´ve always been thinking about and at the same time the ones that you´ve been wishing would not happen to you. But here they are and you need to feel that you receive support for yourself as lots of things of how we see the world, we process it, we feel it, will change in the short-term future.

People and children with Autism, believe me, are different, they are just different! Completely different! They see the world with different eyes, more beautiful but also crueler when they realize that so many people around them don’t understand and don’t comprehend them.

When you´ve spent the time to understand what Autism is, you need to ask for help. Some therapists that can help you are:

• Speech therapist
• Psychologists
• OT therapists
• Neuro-psychologists

There are no universal therapies. Each child, in their individuality, requires therapies specific to their needs. No program, no matter how well designed it is, will work the same for all children or for all parents.

Don´t worry, you´re not alone! Just started the most marvelous journey of your life! You´re about to discover new things, glorious things. The world will be seen by pictures, smells, feelings and lots of love! 

You need support first yourself and then your child!

Sofía Zelou