I got some questions after my last blog post, so I decided to add them to the end of today’s post.
What do you do when you find out that your child has Autism? Now what?
My initial reaction was anger. Yes, I was mad at God that why would He allow this happen to me. One thing I have learned over time is that anger is a secondary emotion, it is usually covering your primary emotion. I was angry then sad, then angry again. You get my drift. Process your emotions because there will be a lot of them. Process them the best way you know how, in a healthy way of course. If you need to reach out to your family and friends, please do. If you need to talk to a professional, do that. I will also suggest you talk to people that are far ahead in the journey. Most importantly talk to Jesus about it, He is your father, and He knows exactly how you feel.
After processing your emotions, it is time to act. Start looking for services to help your child. Services like ABA, speech therapy and occupational therapy (if needed). If your child is of school age, they will need an IEP (individual Education Plan) this is done by the ARD committee (which you will be a part of) I do not want to go into too much detail, so I do not overwhelm anyone new to this journey.
Remember you are the expert on your child, do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Do things your child loves to do and do not try to make them do things the way other kids do. For example, Joshua loves to cook with me so I make it a point of duty to cook with him when I can. Also, do not feel bad or embarrassed when you are outside, and your child is doing something you would rather have them not do. People might stare and that is okay, you can educate them if you are up to it or just ignore.
Celebrate your child’s gift. I know if it is extremely easy to list all the things your child can’t do (yet) but don’t get sucked into doing that, it is one black hole; I know cos I have been there. Instead celebrate the child that you have and all the amazing things they can do. Thank God for Joshua, we would have been late for school after the spring forward. I overslept and he came to wake me up, he is an early riser.
The ultimate is total dependence on God. Remember they are His children; we are just the caretakers. Ask God for what you need, ask him to send destiny helpers to your kid and to you as well.
FREQUENLTY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How do I get someone to evaluate their child?
A: This is hard one cos parents are very protective of their children. Only offer suggestions if they come to you. The parents might not be ready. Ultimately, pray for them and ask the Holy Spirit to direct them.
Q: How can I get my child evaluated?
A: You can ask your child’s pediatrician for a referral
Q: What resources are available?
A: You can start with ECI, this is a state funded agency. It is okay, but not the best.
A: ABA is good, but it can be expensive. See if your insurance from work will cover some of the expenses.
A: The Mothers’ Haven. This is a community of mothers where we will be praying for our children.
These are some of the questions I got. I don't want to provide a lot of information so I don't overwhelm anyone new to this Journey. If you have any questions or need helping finding resources, please feel free to send me an email at hicdat@gmail.com or send me a DM on instagram
Suggestion of the day: Choose Kindness
Until next time, remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
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