| pruunuhrwbll@yahoo.com 2006-09-06, 8:24 am |
| To minimize the challenges your autistic child or loved one faces,
special educational planning and implementation is necessary.
As with treatment, education must be individualized to address your
child's needs and to help him or her build skills that are lacking.
Then as your child becomes an adolescent, a whole new set of challenges
will arise.
While these challenges are the normal challenges every parent of a
teenager faces, they are exacerbated by autism. Autistic teenagers have
difficulty communicating with their peers, but at the same time, they
want to pull away from their parents. This can leave them with no one
at all to talk to. They also have the issue of raging hormones, but the
inability to understand or appropriately manage sexual behaviors.
Living with autism also brings added stress to the entire family.
Siblings may sometimes feel as though their own needs aren't being met
or are just not seen as being as important in comparison to the needs
of their autistic sibling.
Couples may find their lives revolving around the care of their
autistic child and be unable to find time to spend alone, which can
cause the breakdown of the relationship. And, of course, there are
financial stresses and concerns over the future of the autistic child.
In addition, people with autism have a normal life expectancy, so
naturally plans must be made for their adult life. Many adults with
autism are able to lead fulfilling independent lives. They are able to
hold jobs and participate in their communities. To help them do so,
parents must start planning for the transition to the working world
early. The child must be helped to find appropriate employment that
incorporates his or her skills and interests, while keeping challenges
associated with autism to a minimum.
In short, a diagnosis of autism shouldn't be seen as a guarantee of a
lesser life. All you need is the right advice and instruction to ensure
your autistic child is placed and stays on the right path - what you
need is The Essential Guide to Autism as it walks you through exactly
this approach.
http://autism.hatesit.com/autism.htm
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