FAQ Friday: Helpful Advice to a Parent of a Child with Autism

My name is Irene Clark and I am the Family Services Specialist and Educational Advocate here at Community Parent Resource Center, Arkansas Support Network. It is FAQ Friday time and this week’s focus is Autism.

Handling the intricacies of Autism is a bit like a dance: You have to know where to step, be in tune with what is going on, and take a breather when you need to…if that is even possible.

Dealing with Autism all the time can become a strain on the family, so having a few tricks up your sleeve, in my opinion, is important. So here are some tips:

1.       When your child becomes loud and acts fearful or stressed, always keep calm. If his actions are elevated and you become loud and elevated, it just proves to your child that there is a reason to be panicked and life becomes even more complicated!

2.       Have a picture schedule of their day or any responsibilities in the house. Look at it this way; most of us use a calendar on our phones or hard copy. Having a ‘path’ to follow is so very helpful to our children

3.       Don’t try to hurry your child. If that works for you then you are the odd one out, but for most of us that makes every situation worse. Our kids and their need for pattern and consistency is extremely important!!

There are so many helpful sites out there regarding Autism now and we have a fabulous support group here in Northwest Arkansas. If you have questions are want more information, please contact me at [email protected]!

- Irene Clark

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