ASD

So today I met with a group of ladies who all have a child or children on the autism spectrum. It's the first time I'd really connected with other people as a parent of children with autism, working as a behavior coach I always had to maintain a professional distance. Meeting with this group, I never realized how isolating it can feel to be a parent who's kids aren't 'normal'. It's just what we deal with, but it was really nice talking to others who have had some of the same issues from problems with the schools to dealing with shut downs and melt downs. 

I think that the biggest feeling I came away with is that I'm not crazy, especially when it comes to issues with the school. My children have needs that more often than not aren't being addressed, and with my youngest the school is refusing to acknowledge that he's even ASD except that it's plain as day to anyone who knows the spectrum and spends more than twenty minutes with him.

It's both heartening and disheartening to know that my family isn't alone in some of the experiences we've had; heartening because others have gone through it as well but at the same time the road we all face is long and hard and there's no end insight.

Over all it was a great experience, I even met a woman who's child goes to the same school as mine. She's also experiencing some of the same issues with said school. I see now that there is a fountain of information and support that I hadn't been aware of, and maybe this group can help sift through some of that and going forward have better services for my kids.

Some days I question the wisdom of leaving my job. Today really solidified that it was a good decision.