| As parents we all want to believe that our | | | | progress of the other children. If the class |
| children are perfect and we want the very | | | | your child is in has children with Down |
| best for them. How would you feel if you | | | | syndrome, or epilepsy the class my not be |
| learned that your child suffered from Autism? | | | | advanced enough for your autistic child. You |
| As a parent of three children I am still in | | | | could lose ground by not challenging them |
| denial after learning that my youngest has | | | | enough. The key here is to meet with the |
| characteristics in the Autism Spectrum. What | | | | school officials and have them meet the |
| exactly does this mean? Well, doctors have | | | | requirements for your child. Let's be |
| said to me that this means he has a few of | | | | realistic as well. Your school district may |
| the autism symptoms, but he is not exactly or | | | | not be equipped to handle your child's needs |
| totally autistic. He may start out slow (in | | | | at first, but you the parent must insist that |
| some areas), but in a few years he could | | | | your school district make efforts to |
| catch up with the other kids in the areas he | | | | accommodate your child. My son started speech |
| was lagging in. What does this mean? Plain | | | | therapy at age three, and the school |
| and simple it means there is hope. My son has | | | | administrator made accommodations for this. |
| delayed speech and withdraws from social | | | | This has helped him in several areas where he |
| interaction. Mind you he is only 4 years old, | | | | was challenged before. In 6 months he is |
| but this behavior is still in the autism | | | | speaking in full sentences, but the gibberish |
| spectrum. After attending a seminar with | | | | talk is still there just not as bad as |
| parents who's children have autism I am | | | | before. He has improved socially in some |
| starting to believe that my son may be | | | | areas as well. He plays beside the other |
| Autistic. | | | | kids, but he still won't interact, but before |
| | | | he would hide in a corner. He is progressing, |
| My first response was there is no way that my | | | | and my goal as a parent is for my son to have |
| son is handicapped. As I learned more about | | | | every opportunity as the rest of the kids in |
| autism I learned that I was right. Autism is | | | | school. |
| not a handicap it is a disadvantage. Autistic | | | | |
| children may be great or even geniuses in | | | | In my efforts to make parents aware that |
| math, but during P.E. (Physical Education) | | | | autism is real. I also want to give hope to |
| they may with draw. There other classes could | | | | those parents that are frustrated and feel |
| be average or above, but socially they have | | | | helpless. Join the support seminars, and read |
| no interest. These are a few examples, but | | | | about autism. The knowledge you receive about |
| the more you learn about autistic children | | | | autism will better equip you to handle the |
| the easier it is to understand your autistic | | | | pressure of being the parent of an autistic |
| child. | | | | child. Remember this one point and don't |
| | | | forget it. This is your child and your child |
| Should they be put in special education | | | | is at a disadvantage, but he or she is not |
| classes? My theory is while in the beginning | | | | paralyzed. Your child has a chance to live a |
| this may sound good it could also be bad for | | | | normal life. Follow the programs available to |
| the long-term progress of your child. Have | | | | you, and do the research. Keep the hope in |
| you ever heard of monkey see monkey do? Over | | | | your heart. You will only have regret if you |
| time your child could regress do to the | | | | do nothing at all. |