The Outlook For The Autistic Individual

Autism comes with a great many barriers to things that “normal” people often take for granted. Simply stating a desire or need, or being able to explain the feelings and emotions they are going through, can be quite a feat for someone with autism.

While there are varying degrees of autism, there is still some degree of trouble in addressing the needs of everyday life. Lower functioning individuals will most often need assistance for their entire life, with some living in institutions. This is especially the case if they have no immediate family to care for them.

Higher functioning individuals have an easier time, as they are better able to speak and make their feelings known. However, even those on the higher end of the scale experience massive problems in at least one area.

The quality of life for a person with autism often depends on the supports put in place for them as a child. There are a vast array of helps that can be utilized.

• Medication
• Therapy
• Social Cues and Social Stories
• Therapeutic Game Play
• Sensory Integration
• Alternative Therapies

There are many other options and ways to help support autistic children, but probably none as important as understanding. If the adults in the autistic child’s life do not take the time to learn about the disorder, they will not be able to help them. It is not that they do not want to, but rather they cannot.

Autism is a complex disorder that takes shape in many different ways and needs to be addressed individually for each child. Even two children in the same family who have autism can have vastly different types and need vastly different support. No two people with autism are alike.

Giving our autistic children our undivided support and attention is a key element in how well they do in life. When we pair our care with that of doctors, nutritionalists, therapists, counselors, teachers and more, we are opening up a world they might not otherwise be able to have a part in. As parents, we can find it very hard to admit that our child has “something wrong” with them. However, learning to view it as an aspect of their life to be dealt with and improved can greatly reduce the stress for everyone involved.

Autism is not a disease. It is a part of who these children are. So let’s keep treating them like children.

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