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The Call to Advocacy for Your Child with Autism

by Areva Martin, Esq.

In This Article:

Where to begin as an advocate

Putting It into Action

  1. Start a journal to track all of the milestones your child reaches. This will make you more aware of his progress and help you gain a better appreciation for the wonderful growth that is possible for him.
  2. Write down your feelings in relation to having a child with autism. Don't be afraid to acknowledge feelings of sadness, hopelessness and even despair. But if you find that your journal entries are primarily focused on feelings of sorrow, consider talking with someone you trust, such as a friend, minister or a professional counselor.
  3. Write a list of all of the wonderful things you love about your child, such as her smile, her pretty white teeth, her curly hair and her dimples. Review this list when you are feeling sad. Simply reflecting on your child's positive attributes will induce a state of happiness.
  4. Plan a family meeting with your immediate and close extended family members. Talk about the diagnosis and your feelings. This is a safe environment, and talking about what's going on with your child will help you begin to move from anguish to advocacy.
  5. Imagine your own "nation," in the tradition of Laura Krueger Crawford. Define your own language and rituals. Make a game of it that the entire family can join in. Let siblings and other relatives take turns creating new words and activities that exist in the land of your family.



More on: Autism

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Excerpted from The Everyday Advocate: Standing Up for Your Child with Autism or Other Special Needs.
Copyright © 2011 Penguin Group.
Buy this book now!

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