Now What

Now we have the diagnosis.  It confirms what is going on with Abbie and Now What.  I didn't want to do anything to be honest!  We just continued doing what we were already doing, which is about 15 hours of therapies a week.  However, I didn't want to read, hear, or talk about the situation.  I just couldn't.  I gave myself a few months to adjust to the diagnosis and start working toward the healing process.

I do find that when you state your child has Autism, its hard for people to understand.  Because the saying is "one child with Autism, is one child with Autism".  The thing about Autism is that it effects each child differently.  Its not like diabetes, childhood cancers, ect.  All those have specific treatment plans, they know for example what to do if a child is diagnosed with a cancer, what treatments to give and what the prognosis may be, the child hopefully survives and moves on with their life. 

However, with Autism - its NOT CLEAR.  There is no set treatment, there is not set prognosis, there is no right or wrong way for therapies.  This is mainly because each child is different, each child responds to therapies different, what works for one child may not work for another.   There are standards though.    They say a child with Autism should have at least 25 hours of therapies - either through group play, OT, Speech, ABA, ect.  But is 25 hours enough, is it to much.  WHAT - there is NO CURE.  Your child may be able to cope and develop ways to interact with people and school but will always have to deal with Autism and the prejudiced that come with it.

Then you have the issues of dealing with people who don't understand what Autism is and treats your child differently.   They JUDGE you because your child has a meltdown in the store, and they don't understand that your child maybe having a sensory issue or just doesn't understand the social aspects.  They give you dirty looks and comments on how they would solve the problem.  They treat you like you are bad parent and don't know how to discipline your child!  Its crazy!

There is a friend I met who responds to this in a very interesting way.  Instead of them confronting the individual and trying to explain the situation she had small business cards made out that said my child has Autism - and explains what that means.  She just gives it to the person and walks away.  At least now they understand and will stop making comments or rude looks.  I think that is a great idea and I am so going to use this technique.

Now after several months to let myself adjust to the new diagnosis, I started reading, getting involved, and trying to understand what is best for Abbie.  There is so much out there.  You have to weed through the bad to glean the good information.  So now, I find what is best for Abbie, so that she has positive and awesome experiences and learns and grows and becomes a productive and secure adult.  But that is long way to go, she is only 2 3/4 old almost 3 and we have many moons to go!