Autism for Everyone!

Parents and teachers of children with Autism know that if you've met one child with Autism, you've met one child with Autism!  No 2 children present exactly the same - rather they all present with different blends and mixes of characteristics and traits.  Add to this the often co-morbid conditions of anxiety disorders, depression, tourettes, OCD, bi-polar and more and the picture becomes even more skewed.

So the strategies and techniques that work for managing one child with Autism often have little or no beneficial effects on another.  Of course there are some common "tricks" that are great with all kids with Autism - like knowing they are visual learners and respond well to visual cues, hints and prompts.

I could tell you in my sleep (and backwards and forwards again!) what worked well for my son and the tried and tested methods we continue to use to help him manage his journey with Autism, but those methods aren't necessarily going to have any impact on other children with Autism.

The methods I employ in my dealings with other children/adults with Autism come from a "tool box" of strategies I've amassed over many years of working with individuals on the spectrum.

Here's some gems I've learned along the way:-

• Autism needs to be considered first in every situation
• don't sweat the small stuff with Autism
• if it feels wrong for your child with Autism, then it is wrong
• you are the expert on your child with Autism
• we should listen to our children with Autism - they often give you answers to deal with their challenges
• there's always an alternate path for your child with Autism
• "normal" is a cycle on your washing machine

Please share with me here your favorite "gems" you've learned in your personal journey with Autism.