Autism Communication Parenting Skills Advice
Creating Your Village : Tips from an Autism Mom
By Miesha Gibson , BS , MA , ELL
Here ’ s why it ’ s essential to have a network of supportive individuals who can carry you through your autism parenting journey .
I
often hear that I am a strong mother for raising an autistic child on my own . As humbling as this
Our village allows me to advocate for my son because I have the resources and support to move in the right direction . These beautiful individuals are part of our extended family , our # GoBlue4JuSupporters .
However , it was not always this easy raising a special needs child . My family and I pledged to treat Julian the same as any other child . Along the way , I have learned to speak to Julian and not at him . I allowed him to fall and pick himself up , never overreacting . Julian is the oldest of three boys and he is treated like the big brother he is .
My son received his diagnosis at the age of three , and we had no idea what autism was . I did not know where to turn and no one in my family had this disability . In 2001 , parents did not have as much information as we do today about pervasive developmental disorder and autism .
Being an educator for over 20 years , I have access to resources to help myself and others in my cir- cle . Throughout the years , I acquired knowledge from teachers , diagnosticians , principals , nurses , para-professionals , and parents living with disabilities . This is when I decided to create “ JoyofJulian ”, a support group for my son and our family .
One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that I cannot do this alone and it truly takes a village to raise a child ! It is imperative that you surround yourself with people who support you and understand the daily needs of raising a special needs child .