Many parents of children on the autism spectrum face many unique challenges. In my work with these families, I have witnessed the struggled these parents face from the grief and loss of dreams they have for their child. In addition to that, they now have to find services that address the child’s needs.
This is often overwhelming for parents with a child on the autism spectrum and can lead to feelings of shame that they are not doing enough.
The additional stress and grief experienced for parents and families has ripple effects in many ways. It’s not uncommon for parents with a child on the autism spectrum to experience increased stress and pressure in their marriages. Another ripple effect is siblings often do not get their needs met and in some cases they are having to help out with care taking of their brother or sister.
Even going out in the community for these families can be daunting, especially if that child has a tendency to tantrum in public. This often draws attention and looks from other parents. Sometimes even the comments from other parents like, “why don’t you discipline your child?”
There is no one size fits all approach for these families. Most resources only address some of the needs for the child on the autism spectrum but often the rest of the family is still left feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or misunderstood.
However, there is hope.
Understanding the family’s needs and finding a safe place for them to share and be honest about their experiences can be the first step in creating change and healing for families.
