Caring for someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder or other developmental disabilities can bring immense joy and can also be challenging. Parents, caregivers, and family members know that it comes with unique highs and lows. We’ve compiled a list of some insightful stories and articles that give perception into what it is like to care for someone with special needs and all of the love and joy that accompany those relationships.
WATCH: "Q&A" from StoryCorps
“Joshua Littman, a 12-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome, interviews his mother, Sarah. Joshua's unique questions and Sarah's loving, unguarded answers reveal a beautiful relationship that reminds us of the best—and the most challenging—parts of being a parent.” Source: StoryCorps
READ: How autism shapes sibling relationships
“The relationship can have upsides for both the typical and autistic siblings. A typical child may develop qualities such as maturity, patience, resilience, and empathy. And for a child with autism who finds socializing challenging, the banter and bickering of siblinghood may provide a meaningful experience of friendship.”
Source: Spectrum News
LISTEN: Josh Has Autism #102: Care For Others
“Grief is not just reserved for those that have lost a person to death. When illness and disease change the way a loved one can function, we all change how we live. Because those on the spectrum like things to stay the same, it’s a quandary.”
Source: Sonya King
WATCH: The Reason I Jump
“Based on the best-selling book by Naoki Higashida, The Reason I Jump is an immersive cinematic exploration of neurodiversity through the experiences of non-speaking autistic people from around the world. The film blends Higashida's revelatory insights into autism, written when he was just 13, with intimate portraits of five remarkable young people. It opens a window for audiences into an intense and overwhelming, but often joyful, sensory universe.”
Source: Seattle International Film Festival
LISTEN: Parents describe the “best things” about their kids with ASD
“Parents may see challenges in their kids with ASD, but they also know what is great about them and the unique gifts they bring to the world. Now, researchers from Canada have inventoried and categorized these lists of great qualities in a large study of children from 3-10 years of age. These “best things” identified and counted across ages should also be used when planning how to transition kids with ASD from EI or preschool into kindergarten. Another study included this week from Curtin University in Australia describes how parents see this process becoming a lot easier.”
Source: Autism Science Foundation Podcast
READ: How to Care for Yourself When You’re Caring for Someone With Autism
“Taking time for yourself is challenging for any parent, but for parents of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), it can seem downright impossible. Little things that many of us take for granted — drinking coffee while it’s still hot or having five minutes in the bathroom without interruption — are often out of reach for parents of children with ASD.”
Source: Everyday Health
LISTEN: Learning To Love, And Be Loved, With Autism
“Emotions can be hard to gauge in the beginning of any romantic relationship. But for people with autism, who often struggle to interpret social cues, romance can be particularly challenging to navigate. And for some, the prospect of loving and being loved seems out of reach.”
Source: Talk of the Nation: NPR
---
Who is your loved one on the spectrum? We invite you to share your story. Please email us at engage@washingtonautismadvocacy.org if you’re interested in being part of our Stories of Hope series. Leave your comments below!
#AutisticAndLoved
#EmbraceAutism