In April the examiner.com reported that the CDC had released in March their most recent findings; that 1 in 50 school age children are being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which is up from the findings of 1 in 88 that was reported in 2008.
Although these findings are significant, there are other issues that are already affecting parents of children who have already been diagnosed with ASD.
When a child is diagnosed it also has a tremendous impact on the entire family and it especially has a stronger impact on single parent households. To say that the diagnosis makes parenting a struggle is an understatement.
Aside from a lack of social or verbal skills that an Autistic child may lack, the parent’s role in assisting their child with every day routines such as dressing, bathing, eating, and appropriate play can be overwhelming. There are the mountains of paperwork, communicating with outside agencies such as wraparound services, special education teachers, and healthcare providers that add to the parental responsibilities.
There’s also the added pressures of concerns about care giving once the parent has died, financial worries, the ability for that parent to hold down a job or to have a boss who is sympathetic to the family’s needs, isolation, and judgments from the non-Autistic community. The stress can also take its toll on the parent and their ability to be effective.
All these factors are great sources of stress for parents of Autistic children and these sources are often not adequately addressed by the very agencies that provide services for the child. In addition to all the stressors that come with being a parent of a special needs child there’s also a tremendous amount of worry, depression, and anxiety that goes with the daily care of parenting the child.
So how can the parent deal with stress that will also help their family?
Most parents understand the importance of spending some time relaxing and recharging their batteries without their children. Doing so benefits the children because a relaxed parent equals relaxed children.
A major obstacle with parents who have an Autistic child is that they often don’t have a support system such as other family members who can or will help out with child care. That parent may have to be constantly available in case of any problems that may arise at school or they may even have the special needs child or younger children still at home.
Philadelphia’s Community Behavioral Health (CBH) offers respite services for parents with children ages 6-15. Some of these services include a Saturday afternoon respite services at Wilson Park Boys and Girls Club, a respite mini grant program, and a respite program during the winter or spring break. All of these programs are free. For more information about CBH’s respite programs, please go to: http://dbhids.org/children-s-services.
There are things you can do at home that may help lower your stress level. While your child is playing to watching television, take some time to do a couple of deep breathing exercises or step outside to get a breath of fresh air. Once you're outside, if you need to scream then do so. Seek out some support groups. There are several support groups that meet in the Philadelphia area. For a complete list, go to: http://www.asaphilly.org/resources.php. There are also groups available online through the Yahoo! website.
The best way to reduce stress is to accept your situation without blaming yourself. This may sound easy, but for many parents of Autistic children it’s not; there’s a lot of guilt involved when your child is diagnosed. Re-prioritized your life and this could mean changing your routine or deciding what’s important. Stop beating yourself up if your house isn't spotless all the time.
Lastly, stay positive and celebrate yourself as well as the tiny miracles your child achieves every day. If you don’t have one, develop a sense of humor. If you have one, take time to laugh as much as you can.
Comments