A LOOK AT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF RAISING A CHILD WITH AUTISM AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO CONSIDER.

By Vladimir KOGAN

Children with autism are unique, differently-abled individuals who learn and develop in ways that can differ from those of their neurotypical peers. Parents of children on the spectrum face these various learning styles daily and fight their hardest to ensure their child can grow and thrive in their current environment.

In the meantime, however, parents may experience burnout, isolation, loneliness, anxiety, and/or depression. Of course, the love for their children never waivers, but it is important for society to recognize the challenges of raising a child with autism, and how we can best support those families as they navigate a challenging journey.

There are seven challenges that stand out with regard to parents raising children with autism. More importantly, there are seven ways that we as a community can address these challenges and offer support to parents raising children with autism.

Challenge: Childcare

Finding childcare for a child with autism can be far more difficult than finding a sitter for a neurotypical child. The person must have experience watching a child with ASD, including but not limited to, how to calm a child who is melting down or interacting and communicating with a child who is non-verbal. Even if a parent does find someone qualified, their asking rate of pay is likely higher than a “typical” sitter and may not be affordable for already hard-working parents.