Challenges faced by Parents with children on the Autism Spectrum!
"Autism doesn’t come with a manual it comes with parents who never give up." – Author Unknown
Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face several challenges that are unique to their situation. Here are some common challenges that parents may face when raising a child on the autism spectrum:
1. Communication difficulties: Children with ASD often have difficulty communicating effectively with others, which can make it difficult for parents to understand their child's needs and wants. This can lead to frustration and misunderstandings.
2. Social isolation: Children with ASD may struggle with social interactions and have difficulty making friends, which can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness for both the child and the parent.
3. Behavioral issues: Many children on the spectrum have behavioral issues, such as repetitive behaviors, meltdowns and tantrums, which can be challenging for parents to manage.
4. Sensory sensitivities: Some children with ASD may be oversensitive or under sensitive to certain sensory stimuli from their environment which may include but not limited to noise, light or touch, which can make it difficult for parents to find activities and environments that are comfortable for their child.
5. Education and support: Finding the right educational and support services for a child on the autism spectrum can be a daunting task and navigating the complex system of insufficient services or the lack thereof, can be overwhelming for parents.
6. Financial strain: Raising a child with ASD can be expensive, with costs related to education, therapies, medical care, caregivers, and specialized equipment adding up quickly.
7. Emotional stress: The constant demands of caring for a child on the autism spectrum can take a toll on parents' emotional and mental health, which leads to higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and by extension lacking time for self-care.
8. Various emotions: Parents of children on the autism spectrum sometimes experience feelings of anger, guilt, shame, and helplessness over their child's disability. There’s also the feeling of neglect from siblings of autistic children, misunderstanding on how to deal with issues relating to a child on the spectrum can cause conflict among spouse and the increase of divorce.
9. Caregivers: Finding the right caregiver can be a challenging task for parents with children on the spectrum. There are issues ranging from, finding the qualified and specialized caregivers, the availability to work during the hours that care is needed, the cost, finding the right fit for the child, one who can build a good rapport with both child and parents, and most importantly child safety.
10. Employment challenges: Parents sometimes have to make significant employment changes to make adjustments for their special needs child, even a change in career path is sometimes seen among these parents. Keeping a job is also a challenge as the frequent need for time for therapy sessions and other caregiving responsibilities.
Parenting a child on the autism spectrum is not an easy task. These challenges have a long-term effect, as such it is important for parents of children on the autism spectrum to seek out support and resources to help them navigate these challenges and provide the best possible care for their child. This may include connecting with other parents of autistic children, seeking out professional support from therapists or counselors, and advocating for their child's needs within their community and the broader society.
Terry-Ann Malcolm-Alleyne
For more tips on how to deal with children on the autism spectrum check out our YouTube channel “Autistic Edge”