There are several types of autism and several different degrees of it as well. I have a daughter that has Aspergers, which is a form of autism. She was misdiagnosed until she was 12, so the road has been pretty rocky for us. She was diagnosed from ADHD to severe ODD(oppositional difiant disorder), to being schziophrenic. She was placed on numerous amounts of medications through the years as well. When she was younger(she will be 14 in January), I really didn't know I was dealing with an autistic child, so I just raised her normally. I knew that something wasn't right, but with her type of autism, it is very hard to detect because there are so many fragments of symptoms of many disorders. I just knew it was very difficult dealing with her alot of times.

After she turned 12 and she got the right diagnoses, I realized why. She was seeing the world in a whole different way than I was seeing it. Her perception of things was different them mine and the others around her. She wasn't being accomodated to the way she needed, so no wonder she was a handful. I learned that these children have thier own world. The type of autism my daughter has is a higher functioning kind. In other words, she can talk(alot!), she can make herself a bowl of cereal(though a mess is left behind!), she can pour herself a drink, she can take a shower on her own...things like that...she is still in her own world. She has trouble with regular things like; brushing her teeth, zipping her pants, putting her shirt on the right way, socializing, being appropriate, temper tantrums, violent at times, doesn't care how she looks/smells/acts etc. She gets physically sick in public, which causes a big problem with attending school, but, I still have her in public school because it is better for her socially and for her education. There are so many things I could tell you. She has two things that are her life; drawing and animals. She can draw very well and she can tell you just about anything about an animal, but if you ask her something else, she usually can' t tell you anything because, she is not interested in anything else.

Most autistics have one really special thing that they are into like; spinning objects, textures, smells, traines, animals, etc. You know what I mean. I know with my daughter, she has to have animals around her to survive....animals are to her, like air is to us to breathe. We have to have it. The man thing with these kids is to have PATIENCE. If you don't have patience, you will soon learn that without it, it is hopeless. These kids are a handful at times, but we have to continue to show them not only love, but discipline as well. We have to be understanding. We have to be determined. We have to be strong.

I know being the parent of an autistic child, I have run into problems in the past with the disciplining. I have made excuses for her through the years...."She can't help it", "She doesn't know what she is doing", "I can't discipline her because she is disabled",etc etc. The fact is though, we have to discipline them. I let my daughter get away with alot of things because I was feeling sorry for her. The last thing we need to do is feel sorry for them. Though we have to have consistency, which is a BIG yes with these kids, we still need to make them feel as normal as possible. We need to let them have as much interaction as they want with the 'regular' things in life. Like, for example, if the child wants to help with dishes, don't keep them from doing it because of thier disability.Just make sure there isn't anything they can get hurt on in the sink and keep an eye on them. If they want to make the bed, let them...no it may not be perfect, but they need to do these things. Give them chores. Have realistic expectations of them though. You can expect that if they take the garbage out, it may not all make it to the can, or they may take awhile to do it. If they are putting clothes away, they may not be folded how you would do it, and they may not put it in the drawer as you would, but let them do it, and praise them for it!

Well, I could go on and on, but I'm sure you don't want to read a book! Let me just say this...the main things in taking care of an autistic child is: PATIENCE, LOVE,CONSISTENCY. Do realize that there are things that they cannot help, but also realize that with help and alot of understanding and determination, alot of these children can do more than we think they can. Remember also to PRAISE them for good behavior, and efforts that they make. Well, I'll stop for now. If you have anymore questions or comments, please let me know! God bless!