For parents about a child with autism spectrum disorder

Hello, my mom and dad.

After giving birth, we went home, not even suspecting that our story would be unusual.

You were the first to notice that something was wrong, before the experts. I was 1.5 years old at the time. This became noticeable when I was 1.5, because at this time children actively start playing and communicating with others. And this is what I find difficult: playing and socializing.

I know that at first you took it personally. You thought that you had raised me wrong. No, it's not your fault. I was born with ASD.

You don't have to wait up to three years, you can take an online test right now to see if I have a suspicion of ASD.

So, you need to find a specialist. They will include a doctor, a geneticist, a psychologist and a speech therapist.

They will help answer the questions that have caused anxiety. Do I have autism? What is autism? How can you help me develop?

There is only one method of diagnosis - behavioural observation.

It can be truly assessed in two years. Specialists use ADOS diagnostic observation, ADI-R structured interview, or CARS scale to diagnose ASD.

Blood tests and other medical examinations cannot confirm or deny the diagnosis. And there is no pill for autism. However, doctors and medical care are needed.

A neurologist and paediatrician will help you solve health problems (for example, sleep, digestion, etc.)

A geneticist will be able to detect metabolic disorders and choose a diet that will help me develop.

Issues related to my development, education and care could be addressed to a psychologist and speech therapist. Because the simplest things like eating and walking will cause difficulties. We will need regular and long-term work with these specialists.

Such approaches have been adopted around the world:

ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis). The effectiveness of this method has been scientifically proven. This method contains:

teaching socially relevant skills based on the child's interests and motivation (cooperation, play, self-service skills, academic skills);
analysis and correction of problematic behaviour (hitting, biting, screaming loudly, pinching, etc.);
learning to use language and other forms of communication (e.g., PECS)

FLOORTIME is a game therapy. The specialist adapts to the child's interests by copying his or her actions. And then gradually expands the range of these actions. The adult (specialist and parent) does not teach specific skills and acceptable behaviour, but develops emotional and social abilities.

TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children) is a structured education for children with ASD from preschool to adulthood. The program focuses on the development of age-appropriate skills - communication, socialization and self-care - in a clearly structured learning environment.

Sensory integration is used as an adjunctive method in cases where behavioural problems are associated with increased sensitivity to sensory sensations (light, sound, tactile stimuli).

If you live in a small town and there are no specialists in these methods, ask other parents to recommend them to you.

When choosing, please note that:

- he or she should know about autism

- allow parents to be present at the class

- it's great if he or she doesn't limit himself or herself to the room, but helps to educate and take care of me at home and in everyday life (playground, store, etc.)

Online mom training is also a good option.

You can work with experts to develop a program together. Why together, you may ask? Because if a specialist at the centre is working on a skill, parents can work on it at home. Then I will apply it in different situations. This is on the one hand. On the other hand, it is very important that specialists teach you (parents) how to do difficult but important daily tasks.

Tips and secrets for our everyday life:

Space organization. You often tell me about the rules, but it's hard for me to remember them. Think about what you can change at home to make me feel safe right now. I will name a few ideas, and you can continue the list: locks on window frames, food cooked and cooled on the far burner...
Our day has a routine. We eat, sleep, and walk. It's hard for me, but it's important to get used to it. A visual schedule will help a lot.
Predictability of events and rituals are important to me. Help me form rituals that are accepted and that I can use for many years. For example: waving when greeting and saying goodbye, eating at a table, going to the bathroom. My rituals are hard to change, you have to remember that.

Sensory needs. You already know that my needs are different from yours. It is important for me to have a place at home where I can be alone, and there should be a place where I can jump or swing (trampoline, hammock), I think I might like a heavy blanket or vest. We can try.

Tips and secrets for communication and play:

Features of communication. It is difficult for me to understand you and difficult to explain what I want. Be observant, try to understand how I express consent and refusal, how I want to attract your attention and vice versa, to end the conversation and rest.
It's hard for me to show someone else what I want. Usually people use words to communicate, but it will be easier for me to start communicating using AAC (alternative augmentative communication). It looks unusual, but it helps me a lot to start communicating and understand the value of communication. Most children who use AAC start talking earlier.

Play together. My game is a pleasure for me, don't use my game always as a training. It's important for me to have time for fun play with you every day. You can give me new ideas during the game that will help me expand my capabilities, but not disrupt my ideas.
Be in a team of peers. Playing and communicating with peers is even more difficult than with adults. The more often I practice being around other children and try to play with them, the faster I will learn. We can spend as much time on the playground as I can feel comfortable and behave well and go there often. This way I get to know people, and they get to know me.

Tips and secrets to start the inclusion process.

Help my inclusion. Don't hide me from people. My inclusion will begin when we start to visit people and relatives we don't live with, to the store and to the playground. If people ask about my behaviour and it's hard for you, make cards that say what autism is and give them to people as an answer. If I can run away on the street, make a patch with information that I have autism, with the phone number and address where we live.
Educational inclusion can help us a lot. The inclusive resource centre will give me a conclusion and I will be able to go to the kindergarten of your choice. I may need a tutor. All the information will be in my documents. The kindergarten will help me prepare for school.