By: Cristina Martínez
M.B.A, M.S, BCBA, LBA
Coauthor: Ariadna Martin,
MS
Parents painted blue
Recently, I found an anonymous quote that I thought was great to share on ABS social media: “Autism doesn't come with a manual: it comes with a parent who NEVER gives up”. And it seemed to be a perfect reflection, from my professional experience with so many families in which ASD is part of their lives. The fact is that this disorder is always a starring character... it does not take on secondary roles.
With the diagnosis of autism in a child also begins an endless race of challenges and individual, family, and community learning. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of culture of respect for difference to be built, and in this, the active involvement of each responsible parent with the future of their autistic children is fundamental. On the other hand, the path of autism is not always an uphill climb. Therapies, such as ABA, contribute significantly to the growth and education of both families and individuals on the spectrum; but progress is built on small steps and perhaps even setbacks. Here, the ability to persevere, to learn from mistakes, to face the challenge with positivity, are keys to achieve a happy ending.
It is no secret that the magnitude of such demands can be perceived as unattainable. Of course there is stress and anxiety in the process, there are many questions without immediate answers, there are frustrating experiences... there is a difficult reality to face, but not necessarily crushing. There are also many professionals who specialize in this field, resulting in agencies and institutions, such as ours, that put all their expertise into the service of families in need. Scientists are working tirelessly to understand the origin of the disorder and to perfect the behavior analytic approach. In addition, countries such as the United States already have a considerable infrastructure designed for the welfare of people with sensory sensitivity, with employees trained in the care of the neurodiverse population, as well as officially certified spaces to ensure the welfare of both people diagnosed with autism and their families.
Although reaching the maximum of their possibilities for an individual with autism is the goal that every parent should support and defend, there is no doubt that the improvement also impacts (greatly!) every family member involved in the upbringing of these little ones. In essence, the complexity of the daily life of these families multiplies their possibilities of improvement and thus constitutes a positive nuance that is important to visualize and raise awareness.
All parents are superheroes for their children. Parents of children with autism are superheroes, moreover, for an increasingly blue society with much to learn from them.
