By Dana Commandatore

1) Read Jim Sinclair’s “Don’t Mourn for Us“.

2) Tell your parents, family and friends that are close (maybe even your boss) for you are going to need support.

3) Let go of any preconceived ideas for birthday parties, trips to the supermarket and vacations. Don’t worry, sometimes the unexpected is just as wonderful.

4) Discover what motivates your child and learn as much as you can about those topics.

5) Figure out the best way to communicate. Whether it is through speech, sign language, PECS, Facilitated Communication or touch, you will need to reduce everone’s stress by coming up with a way to “talk” with your child.

6) Pay no attention to what complete strangers think of your parenting skills. If your child is screaming at the store, don’t worry if others think that you are a bad parent. Try to figure out what caused the frustration.

7) You don’t have to try anything and everything you find on the internet. The goal should be to understand your child not to eliminate autism.

8) Don’t stop your child from doing something because you think it is weird. Some kids flap. Let them do it. It makes them happy and it isn’t hurting anyone.

9) Build up their strengths as much as you work on their deficits. Some children are good at puzzles but can’t tie their own shoes. Make time for both.

10) Reach out to some autistic adults. I can’t think of a more insightful and helpful community.

11) Read Jim Sinclair’s “Don’t Mourn for Us” again and realize how thankful you are that you were given this precious gift.

Posted by Rethinking Autism at 12/12/2011 http://www.autreat.com/dont_mourn.html