SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES WITH AUTISM

July 18, 2011


Raising children is a strain on most parents as each family copes with their responsibilities based on their experience, knowledge and ability to cope. As the saying goes “the stresses and joys of parenthood”. Parents learn to understand the personalities of each child and their children learn to recognise the personalities of their parents and other family members.

Coping in an environment which clearly lacks the acceptance of Autism, a lack of social support and dealing with an Autistic child’s antisocial behaviour are a few of the challenges that parents are faced with. In addition it has been noted that an Autistic child manifests existing problems within a family or for others creates new areas of conflict.

When living with an Autistic child the stresses are so much greater than in a non-Autistic household, as the Autistic child has problems in not only relating to other people but recognising that others have needs too. Some of the challenges in living with Autism could be sleep disorders, a lack of understanding in relating to others, barriers in communication, a lack of ability to care for themselves, and food and sensory intolerances. As a result Autism impacts on the lives of the rest of the family.

The lack of ability to communicate while making sense of the world is the greatest barrier to an individual with Autism. Events which most people accept as normal everyday situations could cause a great deal of anxiety or fear to an Autistic child.

Most individuals with Autism have added learning disabilities and some suffer from Epilepsy. The added difficulties add more pressure on families coping with the disability. The difficulties outlined, not only cause an enormous strain on the family, but also leave them feeling isolated. Some express sadness, anger and resentment. Some parents find it too much to cope with the added pressure resulting in the break-up of marriages. Some find it difficult to cope emotionally and mentally and often suffer depression. The stresses have been brought to public attention as a result of some high profile incidents that have been reported in the past years, such as murder/suicide of Autistic children and their prime carers. All families require as much support and guidance to deal with their unexpected challenges and enable them to lead happier lives.

It has been reported that the divorce rate in families with an Autistic child is around 80%. Dealing with the stress of the diagnosis, behavioural issues, lack of trained staff, lack of support from services, social issues, financial stress to provide adequate long term support are but a few of the factors that add to the stress of any marriage.

In families with an Autistic child, it tends to be the case that one parent stays remote from the situation and the other gets over involved, typically the dad focuses on his work and the mum focuses on the needs of the Autistic child. This doesn’t leave any room for shared interests which leaves the couple moving in separate directions. Therefore, keeping the lines of communication open means that you can do more to help your child. It is most desirable that parents share the responsibility 50-50, but the chances of this happening are remote. For the sake of the family and the partnership the parent who is most involved needs to have scheduled breaks in order to cope effectively. Some parents run away from their responsibilities, their marriage and even their Autistic child.

Look at respite services available and if you have the finances available you can hire trained people to provide the care that your child needs. Avoiding burnout is an essential part of being a good parent for an Autistic child and shows that you are in control and have effective coping strategies in place.

Mothers of Autistic children are said to suffer a great deal of emotional trauma, as they often hold themselves responsible for their child’s behaviour. Fathers of Autistic children are less affected as they tend to suppress their feelings, whereas mothers vent their feelings by going through a range of grieving processes.

I believe that Autism is a strength. Taking note of the neurotypically wired majority of the human race, how many would be able to comprehend living in an Autistic world?  The Autistic child did not ask to be Autistic. It is confusing, it is bizarre, it is scary, and it is lonely just to outline a few scenarios in the mind of an Autistic person. They need the support of all humankind to learn to understand them. Like all people, Autistic individuals also have their own limitations but they most certainly have their own strengths. Given the best chance to realise their potential they are capable of being the best they can.

“Living with Autism is a challenge to most families, but living in our world is a greater challenge to an individual with Autism. Help them in their journey through life.”

Award winning author of "No Matter What" (Autism)
(Psychology / Mental health - Parenting / Family - Health general )
http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Matter-What-Sandy-Howarth/dp/1847477496

 

SENSORY INTEGRATION THERAPY

March 17, 2011



A treatment which assists a person with Autism to improve the way in which their nervous system receives sensory input. It is usually carried out by an Occupational Therapist. Autistic children require this method of therapy as they could be over sensitive to touch, sound and light, hyper active, clumsy with movements, unable to control self or calm self and show signs of speech delay. The typically developing brain integrates the sensors automatically. The Autistic brain requires a great dea...


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TREATMENTS FOR AUTISM

February 17, 2011

Choosing a suitable educational environment

Parents want what’s best for their children and struggle to give them the best. Whether it is in a mainstream environment, special needs school, or a home based programme the decision should be based on what is most suited to meet your child’s individual needs. The choice should be made based on the child’s ability, which should be determined according to the age and level of development. Needs may vary depending on mobility, co-ordination, ...


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AUTISM ADVICE

February 16, 2011

Dealing with the stress of the diagnosis
No parent expects to hear that their child is Autistic. In addition the shock of the diagnosis can leave parents drained of physical, mental and emotional energy. Therefore, it is important to conserve your energy to focus on areas of priority. Parents of Autistic children experience high stress levels, as everyday parenting skills are not adequate and effective when dealing with a child who is locked in their own little world.

The frustration, guil...


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WHAT IS AUTISM?

February 16, 2011

Autism was first recognised by Leo Kanner in 1943 - a hugely complex neurological disorder marked by the "Triad of Impairments" which shows difficulties in the areas of communication, social interaction and imagination. It is also a spectrum disorder in which the individual demonstrating traits of autism can fit in anywhere within the spectrum. The symptoms can vary from mild to moderate to severe where some show accompanying learning disabilities. Autistic children appear to be indifferen...


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AUTISM AND PARENT CONCERNS

February 4, 2011



Parents are faced with an array of concerns when dealing with an Autistic child. Reaching out for what the future holds while struggling to obtain services becomes a priority. Nevertheless, a positive future for an Autistic child is one that offers them the support to achieve their full potential. The opportunity to gain meaningful language offers greater promise for an Autistic child who can use language to communicate and cope within our world. However, a child who demonstrates passive beha...


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A SPIRITUAL OUTLOOK ON AUTISM

January 17, 2011


Looking at how to deal with the challenges of autism the most effective way I have found is to understand and learn to accept the condition. Here, we are confronted with the first hurdle which is the question of the cause - the answer often leading to “we don’t know.... “ or “we think it is….” People look to find answers, apportion blame or escape from the reality of the life-long care that goes with a diagnosis such as autism. It continues to create high stress levels within the ...


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Understanding autistic behaviour

January 13, 2011


Understanding Autistic behaviour

Autistic children pose challenges to parents and care givers due to the lack of understanding between each other. It is difficult to assess how much a non verbal Autistic child knows through watching television or information they may have acquired from their environment. A close observation of the child will help recognise the cues associated with Autistic behaviour.

Anxiety is a major factor in the life of an Autistic person. The stronger the feeling of anx...


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AUTISM - IS IT THE MMR VACCINE?

January 13, 2011


Is it the MMR vaccine?

My child regressed after the MMR vaccine at 15 months just as a large proportion of other Autistic children did. I do not blame the vaccine for Steven’s Autism, as having studied Steven very closely I recognised that he displayed behaviour that was different or lacking in normal development even before the time when the regression took place. I had concerns over Steven’s level of activity, his erratic sleep pattern and the comprehension of language before he had hi...


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ACT NOW - press release and visit to Downing Street

October 20, 2010
Six leading autism Campaigners: Carole Rutherford - Co-founder (Autism In Mind), Ivan Corea (UK Autism Foundation), Richard Exley (Autism Consultancy Services), Anna Kennedy (Hillcrest Autism Services and best selling biography “Not Stupid”), Alison Wiles (Founder Autism – United Kingdom) and Sandy Howarth author of “No Matter What”(Autism) all determined to protect the future of families with Autism in the UK launched their own Impact Assessment Report on 18th October 2010 at the D...
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Author of No Matter What


My book "No Matter What" takes a positive approach to understanding and dealing with Autism.