Parenting a Child with Autism: 11 Tips to Promote Autism Acceptance

Parenting a Child with Autism: 11 Tips to Promote Autism Acceptance

When parents hear the word autism in relation to their child for the first time, they are often overwhelmed and frightened. Many parents turn to reliable sources like Autism Speaks and the HEAL Foundation for help. Both organizations are based on autism awareness. The research and services offered help parents, families and friends get all the information they need to truly understand autism. Your advice and information is accepted and used by many parents, doctors and teachers.

A different perspective on autism promotes not only understanding of autism, but also acceptance of the diagnosis as part of the child or person with autism. Autism Acceptance, also known as Autism Positivity, focuses on teaching that autism should not be viewed or treated as a disease. Autism is simply part of the individual's personality.

A mother has spent hours compiling a list of tips for parents raising a child on the autism spectrum. She has spent thousands of hours learning through trial and error and offers these 11 tips for building a healthier parent-child relationship:

1. Listen with intention. Try to understand what your child is saying. Don't think about your answer.

2. Talk to adults living with autism.

3. Communicate with your child's teachers and offer information that you have found helpful in your parenting moments. A helpful resource includedThe Autism Discussion Siteby Bill Nasson. His compassionate tone and clear writing provide parents and caregivers with excellent tips, ideas, and resources.

4. Find ways to implement a reward system. TheToken management theoryis a helpful tool to help parents and children stay calm.

5. Look for examples of successful people with autism. This may take some research, but you can find real people successfully navigating careers at different degrees of the spectrum. Don't forget to check out the library for books and other resources.

6. Let your child learn more about successful people likeJoey Hudy,a childDr. Mad Sciencewho enjoys scientific experiments. Help your child understand that there are other people who are similar to them.

7. Find something your child enjoys and use it to connect with them. Learn more about their interest and use it to open communication. CheckRon Suskind, who helped his son use his love of Disney to make connections with the rest of the world.

8. Don't be afraid to test your child's well-being. Encourage them to try new things. Expose them to things that make them uncomfortable.

9. Consider allowing your child to participate in cognitive therapy. One option arises from the work ofDr. Abraham A. Low. His book entitledMental health through will training, teaches a system that works for many families.

10. Understanding game time. When you fully understand the complicated nature of downtime like interaction, social expression, and other milestones, you can help your child at their own pace. Many children with autism do not learn by observing other people. Understanding all the ways children learn through play can help your child connect through a different channel.

11. Teach your children trust through narrative psychology. A good read is “This is your life and how we tell it. “The premise of narrative psychology changes your perspective. For example, instead of saying, "Children with autism don't like physical education class," focus on activities they like. This can encourage your child to participate in and enjoy physical activities. Fight labels associated with autism.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives bravely, who errs, who keeps falling short because there is no effort without mistakes and shortcomings, but who actually strives to do the deeds, who has great enthusiasm knows the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause, who in the end knows at best the triumph of high achievement, and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place will never be with those who are cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat. – Theodore Roosevelt (THE MAN IN THE ARENA)""

Inspired by Paul Napier, MA, BCBA