Autism is one of the most highly misunderstood conditions in our society. Autism affects thousands of children in the United States and Canada. Besides the changes that a diagnosis of Autism brings to the life of the child you also have the disruption and stress that the family endures as they make adjustments in their life in order to cope with the condition.
When you get the diagnosis of Autism, You need to look at a few factors right from the start. Addressing the areas will help to make the overall transition in your family's life easier.
Many children who suffer from autism also suffer from related condition which can be complicated by the autism. These conditions include gastrointestinal disorders, seizures, and food allergies; you need to first determine if these conditions are present with your child and if so you will need to address them now. It will make life easier down the road.
See what kind of programs is offered by your community with regard to Autism support. You will also want to check with your local school board to find out what programs are offered in way of special education and developmental education. If the offerings in your public system are not satisfactory, look into private school programs which specialize in autism education. Many times public school vouchers are offered to help offset the cost of such programs for the parents.
The use of Bio Medical treatments for Autism is one of the most progressive developments to happen in over a decade. These treatments are often administered by DAN (defeat Autism now) certified doctors and have a varying degree of success. It should be noted that the success rate of these types of treatments has increased in the last few years. More doctors than ever are beginning to see the positive effect that these Bio Medical treatments can have.
The Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) teaching method is one of the most effective styles of addressing the special needs that autistic children have with regard to education.
Although we still do not fully understand all of the causes and complexities of the autistic condition a great deal of work has been done toward that end. Research is ongoing and the lives of those affected and the people that love them have been made slightly better in recent years. Making the effort of the above steps will be a huge help to you and your family as you learn to deal with this condition with your child.
Additional Resources exist to help you and your family deal with your child autism condition. These include the Defeat Autism Now Foundation, The Autism Research Institute and the Autism Speaks Organization. These groups can help you get back to even with this condition and restore a level or normality to your lives.
There is such a thing as life with autism. Your family and your child can learn to live a meaningful and happy life even with this condition and there are resources that can help.
