| Discovering your child has autism may be a distressing | | | | properly manage your child's illness. |
| ordeal, and unfortunately, time is of the essence. As a | | | | Consider marriage counseling if you are married. An |
| parent, you do not have the time to consider why or | | | | autistic child can put serious strain on a marriage, |
| how this happened, only what to do next. The most | | | | leading to escalating arguments, neglect of each other, |
| important thing to remember is that you are not alone | | | | and even perhaps blaming each other for the situation. |
| in your struggle. By researching the disorder and finding | | | | Marriage counseling from the very beginning can help a |
| others going through similar situations, you can help you | | | | couple through this discovery and rough transition, and |
| child while still dealing with your own emotional | | | | help build a better supportive environment for your |
| response. | | | | children. Your marriage should not end as a result of |
| Join a support group for parents with autism. You can | | | | having an autistic child, but the sad fact is that many of |
| find these by contacting the national Autism Society of | | | | them do. Prevent this by using one another for support |
| America. From there you can find local branches, | | | | and by understanding that you may need help to deal |
| many of which offer support groups for parents and | | | | with one another now and in the future. |
| families with an autistic child. Being in contact with other | | | | Most importantly, start on the path to becoming an |
| parents in a similar situation can not only help you feel | | | | expert. Many times pediatricians or psychiatrists are |
| less alone, but it can provide you with a myriad of | | | | not experts on autism, which can lead to improper |
| resources. A parent support group will also help point | | | | diagnoses or incorrect treatment options. As your |
| you in the direction of the best doctors, intervention | | | | child's best advocate, you must know everything you |
| programs, and workshops for both your child and your | | | | can about autism. |
| family. Find a support group for any other children you | | | | Parents of Autistic Children can be a great resource; |
| have as well. Many parents forget that they are not | | | | this organization offers training and workshops. The |
| the only ones who must learn to live and communicate | | | | ASA has a newsletter and also offers a variety of |
| with an autistic child. By locating a support group for | | | | information, from diagnosing to treating. As always, |
| your other children, you can help them from acting out | | | | remember that a support group of parents with autistic |
| or acting against the autistic child by teaching them | | | | children can always provide you with books and |
| about the illness. As a parent, you must create a | | | | research that focus on the reality of the situation. |
| supportive environment for the entire family in order to | | | | |