Sanford Autism Advocacy Group
  • Home
  • About
    • Owner/Director
    • Meet the Team
    • Meet Our Partners
  • IEP SERVICES
    • ADVOCACY
    • Crystal Clear IEP Conference
    • IEP Consultant Training
  • Blog
  • PODCAST
    • Thriving Special Families (2021)
    • Thriving Autism Families (2022)
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • My Autism Family Care Planner
    • Sour Lemons Book
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • Owner/Director
    • Meet the Team
    • Meet Our Partners
  • IEP SERVICES
    • ADVOCACY
    • Crystal Clear IEP Conference
    • IEP Consultant Training
  • Blog
  • PODCAST
    • Thriving Special Families (2021)
    • Thriving Autism Families (2022)
  • Resources
    • Resources
    • My Autism Family Care Planner
    • Sour Lemons Book
  • Videos
  • Events
  • Contact
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

4/11/2018 0 Comments

Disclosure: Talking to Your Child About Autism

Picture
​Have you had "the talk" with your child? I am referring to a discussion about your child having Autism 😉. Many Autism parents like myself begin to contemplate having "the talk" as our children enter the mid years of elementary school. Others wait until adolescence or young adulthood. Let's briefly discuss the pros and cons...
Pros:
Disclosing to your child can be empowering for them. It can help them make sense of their known strengths and challenges. Disclosure can also support your parent/child relationship. Many individuals diagnosed with Autism as adults report feeling resentful towards their parents initially because their parents did not address the issue early on.

Cons:
Disclosure could initially evoke feelings of fear, anger or sadness. Also, older children could begin to use the diagnosis as an excuse for certain behaviors.

Tips: 
  • Begin when your child is young by having a family discussion about everyone's strengths and challenges. This will create a healthy and accepting atmosphere to add Autism to the discussion as your child gets older. 
  • Involve a trusted professional to assist you in disclosing an Autism diagnosis to your child. Your child's speech pathologist, behavioral therapist or psychologist/psychiatrist would be a great person to team with since your child is likely already familiar and comfortable with them.
  • Use books to assist in the disclosure discussion. Here are a few:                                     ​~The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (And Their Parents) by Elizabeth Verdick                                                                                                                                ~The Asperkid's (Secret) Book of Social Rules by Jennifer Cook O'Toole
​
As you already know, each child with Autism is an awesome individual, to say the least. That being said, what works for one child or family may not work for yours. As you contemplate talking to your child about Autism, be encouraged! Trust your gut and make the decisions that work best for your child/family.  Remember that clinicians and fellow Autism parents like myself are here to assist. Feel free to reach out for more information...

References: Indiana Resource Center for Autism (www.iidc.indiana.edu)

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Crystal Sanford, M.Ed., M.A. CCC-SLP is an Educational Consultant, IEP & Autism Advocate and Speech Pathologist. She is also the host of inspiring podcasts, Thriving Special Families and Thriving Autism Families! Her passion is advocating STRONG alongside fellow Autism and special needs parents, helping them to persistently pursue what their children deserve at school. In her free time, she enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband and two children in San Diego, CA.

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    April 2021
    January 2021
    September 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017

    Categories

    All Amazing Grace Autism Info IEP Advocacy SAC Company Info Thriving Special Families Tips And Strategies

    Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
© COPYRIGHT 2023. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
WEBSITE CREATED BY BLUE PHOTO SD