Having a child with Autism is an unexpected adventure. As unprecedented as it may seem, there are many resources available to help you and your family navigate through each milestone! You are not alone in this journey, and below you will find a variety of books, resources, blogs, and supports to help guide you and your child through this new life!

Diagnosis

First, you need to understand and cope with your child's diagnosis, and what this will mean for your daily life. Below are a few excellent books to help you understand what Autism is, and how to begin to help your child learn. Although this is a lot for you to process through, please know that you are not alone. It takes a village to raise your child, and you can connect with many parents all around the world. Don't forget to enjoy your child! Many ways of teaching important skills can be fun for your whole family! Families have created blogs to talk about their journeys, things that have/have not worked well, and to provide support.

Autism Speaks is a national network with information for children with Autism. The website has links to free training videos, ideas, and the IEP process.

https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/dos-and-donts-after-autism-diagnosis

https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/10-things-parents-can-do-help-their-child-autism

Best Books to read for Autism

https://www.abadegreeprograms.net/best-books-about-the-autism-spectrum/

• The Autistic Brain, by Temple Grandin
• Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew, by Ellen Notbohm
• Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism, by Barry M. Prizant and Tom Fields-Meyer
• An Early Start for your Child with Autism: Everyday Activities to Help Kids Connect, Communicate, and Learn

Family

Next, your family will need to talk openly about Autism. Below are a few resources for discussing Autism with siblings, family, and friends:

• Autism and the Extended Family, by Raun Melmed and Maria Wheeler
• https://www.autismspeaks.org/sites/default/files/2018-08/Siblings%20Guide%20to%20Autism.pdf

Childhood

The Autism spectrum encompasses a wide range of characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses that children with Autism tend to convey. For your child, these may include sensory needs and daily living skills. Some children walk through each day in a sensory deficit and you can help them by providing opportunities for sensory input. Other children struggle with an overwhelming "feeling" of everything, and they may be uncomfortable with lights, sounds, and touch. You can help your overwhelmed child by providing opportunities to cope with and regulate their senses. Below you will find a few very active blogs from parents of children with Autism. These blogs are written by parents who have been through where you are now, and they are full of ideas to help your child develop sensory skills through fun and play!

• Little Bins for Little Hands: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/
• Chaos and Clutter: https://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com/
• My Mundane and Miraculous Life: https://www.mymundaneandmiraculouslife.com/
• Lemon Lime Adventures: https://lemonlimeadventures.com/
• Your Kids Table: https://yourkidstable.com/

IEP

Once your child has entered the public school system, you may be overwhelmed with the paperwork involved with the "caseload". Below is an excellent resource to break down the IEP process into manageable steps, and an overview of the basic language associated with the IEP. Each state - and even each county - have different processes for building an IEP, however special education is mandated by federal law. Specifically, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004).

Special Education Defined

The IEP process can be confusing and overwhelming. This link is a helpful walk-through to guide you as you navigate through this process each year. There are some terms that you will hear repeatedly, and this link provides simple definitions for Special Education lingo. Your child's IEP team will work to ensure that you are an active member of the team while your child is at school.

https://www.parentcenterhub.org/iep-overview/

Conflict Resolution

Throughout your child's education, conflicts may arise. It is common for the IEP team to disagree, as the team dynamic will shift from year to year. If any member of the IEP team disagrees with a decision to be made, it is important to come to a consensus as quickly as possible for the benefit of your child. The following outlines steps taken when a disagreement must be resolved, and displays resources for you so that you can ensure that your child is being provided everything that they are entitled to under the law.

https://www.pgcps.org/special-education/compliance-and-due-process/

https://www1.pgcps.org/uploadedFiles/Schools_and_Centers/Middle_Schools/Eugene_Burroughs/Maryland%20Procedural%20Safeguards.pdf

Your child's teacher will address academic, social, and communication each day in the classroom. You can support these goals at home by continuing the program that your child's teacher practices in the classroom. When you play with your child and engage in fun, sensory based activities, you and your child form a bond that will help you reach milestones together. Don't forget to have fun with your child, and be confident in knowing that he/she learns invaluable skills simply through playing with you!