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Understanding Autism When your Child is Diagnosed with Autism When a child receives a diagnosis of autism, Asperger syndrome, or other pervasive developmental disorder parents and family members may experience a range of feelings. These feelings can include grief, denial, anger, fear, and confusion. If you are a parent, and even if you suspected something was wrong, you may feel or have felt these emotions. As your journey begins, we want you to know that you are not alone. There are numerous autism networks across Illinois and we can put you in touch with other parents of children with autism... parents who understand how you are feeling now, because they have experienced it themselves. They can help you learn how to cope, find local resources to assist you, share information on treatment, and lend a friendly ear. The information provided in this folder will help you take the first steps toward understanding autism. You will want to explore how the diagnosis affects your son or daughter and research the most appropriate treatments and programs. All of the questions and information will seem overwhelming in the beginning; you may feel like you are drowning in all of the new information, and wonder how you will manage it all. You will have to trust us when we say that “you can and you will”. We aren’t going to pretend that the demands of raising a child with autism are not difficult; many families frequently experience high levels of stress. Recognizing and preparing yourself for the challenges that are in store will make a tremendous difference for you and your family; including grandparents, extended family, and friends. The uniqueness of each individual with autism makes the experience of raising a child with autism different for each family. But there are some consistent themes or issues that most families will begin to recognize, these areas will become important when you begin looking for services to help your child and other families who can relate to your situation. Take the time to read and learn about autism, take the time to contact other families who have been through the same things you are experiencing; they can help you find resources in your area and explore what supports might work for you, your child and your family.
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