I suggest you add different types of people to your circle if you can, ones who don’t have children with Autism. Autism shouldn’t be a “secret world” filled with only tiny online groups who “get it.” So I use occasions like this to build more awareness for everyone. but without the education and awareness it will never be at the level we hope for. They are in the grocery store and at the park. They are living on the same streets, getting educated in the same classrooms. People need to know that our kids look just like theirs. RELATED: Dear Autism, You Have Changed More Than Just My Child’s Lifeīuilding awareness reminds them that all kids that have challenges and struggles aren’t always obvious, like someone in a wheelchair. In fact making others aware could save their life, or another child’s. Your child’s disability shouldn’t be a secret. In fact, our neighbors were wonderful and jumped into action when we needed them most last April when my son got away from my husband and we had to dial 9-1-1 for the first time. They have even been given permission to grab him and put him in their car if they need to, should he ever wander off. They understand he is drawn to water, playground equipment, and dogs. They know he probably won’t respond to his name when called, that if you chase he may run faster. They can see my son doesn’t “look autistic”-that you can’t just tell that by seeing a person. And when they learn about our son, they gain knowledge about autism in general, which can benefit other families. any kind.ĪLL of my neighbors have had the opportunity to see a picture of my son, know the details and I even post them on our Facebook community page. He bolts from us incredibly fast, without warning, so we must have a hand on him and 1:1 supervision at all times.īecause of this reason alone, I am all for awareness. He would run into the street, woods, or maybe jump in a nearby pond. He is what most of us in the autism world call an “eloper.” a perfect mix for sensory overload or worse, losing him in the mix. I also gave them these details because Halloween is filled with crowded streets, a lot of noise and darkness. They knew what he looked like, the costume he was going to wear, the type of bucket he would be carrying, that he was preverbal and he may not respond “appropriately” to receiving treats. Last year before Halloween, I made sure everyone knew about our son. RELATED: To the Mother I Was Before Autism I hope, after all the work I have put into it, all of mine do. ![]() How many people in your neighborhood know you have an autistic child? Let’s start with the people closest to you. Successful to me means two things: Safe and happy. Last year was our most successful Halloween to-date. Build it with those around you and practice with your child to make them as comfortable as possible. To me, that’s a huge factor to your child being successful at any time, not just Halloween. Every year around this time, I am asked the same question: “Do you have any good tips on how to help my autistic child have a successful Halloween?Īnd my answer is always the same: Build awareness.
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