Having autism in the lime light has raised more money for ASD research and grants along with informing the public of early intervention and detection, however I am not sure the latest news segments about how to cure your child of autism, supports families in the long-run. We all are — "Warrior Families" plugging along trying to provide for our children while parenting them to reach their potential. When faced with autism, parents are given a diagnosis with no cause, cure, or prognosis even though we know through research that intensive, early intervention can often lead to a more inclusive life, we can sometimes get dragged down a path of trying to "cure" our children.
Curing our children with ASD only means we are taking a piece or pieces away from who they are. And what do we expect to replace the characteristics with, a fusion of "popular" people traits? Of course as parents we should help our children grow into adults that can enjoy a meaningful life, but I would never think of curing my four year olds's tantrums, I would work towards making him self-regulate himself. At the same time I think a child who has tantrums will someday be able to speak his or her mind, so I cherish the fact that my child screams when a toy is snatched from him.
However, I do believe we need to emphasize making children with ASD well, whether they suffer from gut issues or seizures, the care children receive should be complete and thorough. Often because an individual with ASD has limited communication or lack of connection to what hurts inside his/her body, doctors misdiagnose or a diagnosis is never made.
I have sat in dozens of doctor offices posing the same question over and over, "how can Tristan develop if he cries all night and has severe abdominal pain?" For the past four years I have been searching for the answer to improve my child's health, not to cure his autism.
Everyone has choices to make when faced with autism and since the research has not caught-up to the rate of autism we, as parents, often are left to blaze ahead without much direction. At the same time I believe as "Warrior Parents" we need to look at all avenues and not focus all our energy on curing our children with autism, instead take small steps towards a productive, meaningful life for our children and our families.
I agree wholeheartedly.
I agree wholeheartedly. Acceptance and community are what it is all about.
I am a graduate student
I am a graduate student working on my master’s degree in childhood education and special education (grades 1-6). I am currently taking a class that is entirely based on autism. I completely agree with your ideas in this blog. I like how you refer to families of children with autism as “Warrior Families.” When I thought about it, this name is completely appropriate. I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be for parents when they first find out that their child has autism. It is essential for parents of children with autism to be strong advocates for their children, especially when it comes to education.
Furthermore, I agree that curing children with autism will only take pieces away from who they are as a person. As a teacher, I think it is essential to accept and respect each student as an individual. Teachers need to take time to get to know each and every one of their students. It is important for teachers to teach children how to use their strengths to help them improve their weaknesses. Therefore, as a teacher, I believe that it is my duty to help students with autism to reach their full potential in any way that I can in the classroom. Teachers need to be flexible at all times in order to help students with autism to excel throughout each day. Children with autism do have the ability to live successful lives. As parents and teachers, it is our duty to support children with autism. If teachers and parents can focus only on how to help children with autism deal with their differences instead of focusing on how to eliminate the differences, then children with autism will begin to excel.
This is a great post and I
This is a great post and I agree totally with what you are saying. I am also a graduate student talking a class on autism and one of the main things that I have learned from the class is trying to find ways to help the students strengths rather than try to change them completely. It is like any other circumstance you want to try and build off an individuals strengths rather than put them back farther and making them start over. A book that we have been reading called Thinking in Pictures is a great read and I recommend it to anyone! It is about a women that has Autism and her life and the struggles and triumphs that she has gone through. The authors main point throughout the book is trying to let the readers know that individuals with autism are just like everyone else. Everyone is different in some way, it is just individuals with autism are just more public with there difference then many others. Her way of life and the success she has had throughout her career and life is amazing!
As a future teacher I am really trying to learn everything that I can to help students of all different levels. Learning different techniques and trying to find the interest of the child is something that I believe should be a big part of what a teacher brings to the classroom. I would love to hear from parents that have children with autism any different technique or strategy that they have found that has worked well for them and their child. I think knowing that everyone is different and everyone not only learns in a different way but also has different needs is something that I will also remember being a future teacher.
I agree. Wonderful post.
I agree. Wonderful post.