Autism Speaks in New York, New York, United States for Friday, 16 June 2017 "Happy Father's Day"
Autism Speaks in New York, New York, United States for Friday, 16 June 2017 "Happy Father's Day"
E-Speaks Newsletter
We would like to thank all the dads in the autism community for being an integral part of the "village" it takes to raise a child on the autism spectrum. Words cannot describe the lasting impact your love and support has on your child's future. Read More
Happy Father's Day from Autism Speaks
Happy Father's Day from Autism Speaks! We would like to thank all the dads in the autism community for being an integral part of the "village" it takes to raise a child on the autism spectrum. Words cannot describe the lasting impact your love and support has on your child's future.
The Autism Speaks blog features opinions from people throughout the autism community. Each blog represents the point of view of the author and does not necessarily reflect Autism Speaks' beliefs or point of view.
What I learned as a dad the day my son was diagnosed with autism I remember the day like it was yesterday, Saturday April 19th, 2014. The Child Psychologist who had finished assessing our 1 year 10-month old son informed my wife and I that our son had autism spectrum disorder. Read More
What I learned as a dad the day my son was diagnosed with autism
This guest blog post is by Chris Clinch, a small business owner in Toronto, Ontario. His only child has autism. I remember the day like it was yesterday, Saturday April 19th, 2014. The Child Psychologist who had finished assessing our 1 year 10-month old son informed my wife and I that our son had autism spectrum disorder. I had known for some time before his assessment this would be the result, as Tyler was completely non-communicative at the time, but it still didn’t take away the feeling of being punched in the gut when his Child Psychologist said those words. In the few seconds it took for her to say them, it was like every dream and aspiration I had for him had completely vanished. Later that night after Tyler had gone to bed, I gave the day some more thought and came to the realization I had better put my pity party aside, and as his Dad, help him find his aspirations and goals, whatever those maybe. Just after his second birthday Tyler started the Early Start Denver Model programme. Most two year olds spend their days playing and taking a nap or two, Tyler spent his doing two hours of intervention 5 days a week for the entire second year of his life. This didn’t include the bi-weekly visits to his OT and weekly appointments with speech pathologists. He made incredible progress that year. He was talking a mile a minute, and was able for the most part, to communicate his wants and needs. It was never lost on me how hard he had to work to achieve these things. What most people take for granted as “just a kid growing up” he had to work hard for. In his 3rd and 4th year of life, Tyler has done some ABA and IBI, but he’s also attended daycare and entered Kindergarden with his neuro-typical peers. None of these came easy for Tyler, either. Like some on the spectrum, large crowds in small settings aren’t an ideal situation for him. Classroom settings with 15-30 children playing and making noise is what most consider normal – for Tyler, it’s unorganized chaos. With the help of some very fine teachers (and people) and with his hard work, he’s been able to adapt the best he can and is learning with the other children his age. Most young boys who have just turned 5 like he has are interested in playing sports, not him. Tyler is interested in letters and numbers. How to make words with the letters and how to add, subtract and multiply. He even finds other, non-conventional ways to use them. I’m okay with that. He’s happy and enjoys it. I sometimes push him into spots or situations where I know he’ll likely be a bit uncomfortable, not because I want him to be “normal” but because he is, and can be great. I will fight to my death anyone who say’s “poor Tyler, he has autism so he can’t do that”. He may have to work harder than others like he has for everything else, but he can. If he can’t, he’ll make that decision for himself. In the 3 plus years since his diagnosis, I purposely have never used the word Autistic to describe him once. To me, it would be labelling him that, and only that. Tyler is a young boy who enjoys making jokes, laughing, playing, math, swimming, mini-putt, karate, learning to ride a bike among many other things. Autism is a part of who he is, but it doesn’t define him. If he chooses to use the term when he gets older, it will be his prerogative. I wouldn’t change his autism. It’s a part of what makes him who he is, my best little buddy in the entire world. It’s made me change the way I look at the world and how I treat people. My Son has made me a better person. I’m so fortunate and proud that he calls me “Daddy”. I don’t know where this journey will take us in the future, but I love that he’s the one leading the way!
The Autism Speaks 100 Day Kit for Newly Diagnosed Families of Young Children was created specifically for families of children ages 4 and under to make the best possible use of the 100 days following their child's diagnosis of autism.
The Autism Speaks blog features opinions from people throughout the autism community. Each blog represents the point of view of the author and does not necessarily reflect Autism Speaks' beliefs or point of view.
Parent Support Tool Kit provides support and encouragement to parents after an autism diagnosis Dads, moms and other caregivers need support and encouragement to best care for their children with autism. Sections of this guide for parents from Autism Speaks include Building a Support Network, Advocating for Your Child and Taking Care of Yourself. Support tool kits are also available for siblings, grandparents and friends. Read More
Family Support Tool Kits
Family members and friends of individuals with autism are presented with many joys and many challenges throughout their lives. Learning that a family member or friend is affected by autism is a powerful moment. People respond with a wide array of emotions: shock, grief, fear, denial, anger, acceptance, and many more. Many begin to feel their lives will never be the same. Parents can feel overwhelmed, siblings can feel isolated, grandparents can feel helpless, and friends can feel apprehensive. In an effort to ease the fears of and provide encouragement to all people with individuals with autism in their lives, Autism Speaks has created 4 support tool kits, each designed specifically for the following groups: Parents Siblings Grandparents Friends The purpose of each kit is to help teach family members and friends more about autism and its effects on families, and provide resources and support to enable them to lead happy and successful lives with their loved ones with autism.
A Parent's Guide to Autism
This tool kit is specifically designed for parents of children diagnosed with autism. This Tool Kit will help parents:
Learn about autism and how it may impact your family.
Find strategies and resources for raising a child with autism.
Find support so you don't feel alone or isolated.
Reduce the negative impact of the diagnosis on your family.
Promote a positive future for your child and family.
This tool kit is for anyone who has a brother or sister diagnosed with autism. Though the guide has been designed for children ages 6-12, the information can be adapted as needed to other age and education levels. The guide is written in an interactive format so parents and siblings can set aside some quiet time to read the guide together. The intention is to create an opportunity for siblings to focus on their feelings, reactions to their sibling’s diagnosis and get information about autism. Click here to read A Sibling's Guide to Autism.
A Grandparent's Guide to Autism
This tool kit is designed specifically for grandparents of people who have been diagnosed with autism. This tool kit will help grandparents to:
Learn about autism and its impact on your family.
Discover ways to support your children who may be struggling with their child's autism diagnosis.
Find out ways to develop the best relationship you can with your grandchildren.
Feel support and encouraged so you do not feel lonely or overwhelmed.
Click here to read A Grandparent's Guide to Autism. Clic aquí para Autismo: Una Guía Para Abuelos.
A Friend's Guide to Autism
This tool kit is specifically designed for friends of families affected by autism. This tool kit will serve as a guide to help you learn:
More about autism.
How your friend may be feeling if this is a new diagnosis.
How to support your friend.
How you and your family can interact with and support the person with autism.
Father's Day eCards Now is the perfect time to send a Father's Day card to the dads who have made a big difference in your life. Send a message today using one of our new Father's Day eCards! Pick your favorite design, make a donation and we'll send it for you. Send Now
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