I'm hesistant to talk about it, even in the relative anonymity of my HN username, but swathes of this article read like a script covering the past few years for us.
Thankfully, we've had great success, but not without constant effort and patience on all fronts - at home, out and about, when researching, when dealing with our county and state resources, insurance company and of course all the people who have very strong opinions on all things autism.
In a nutshell, I'm all for the sort techniques the article describes alongside a sensible definition of 'normal' and most importantly selflessness in seeking what's best for your child.
If anyone reading this has an inkling to chat, feel free to use the email in my profile.
Having kids is a gamble. Having a child diagnosed with Autism (as my won was at the age of 2) is a gamble as well. We lost the first bet, but like you, seem to be doing better on the second one.
We (my wife and I) wagered nearly everything - our financial resources, career changes, intense daily effort for years, endless therapies (PLAY, ABA, RDI, OT, PT, Aqua, you name it), and the gamble has "paid off". Upon first meeting few would pick up on our son's 'quirkyness'.
Our ABA records indicate it took my son 600 tries to learn the color red. Today, its his favorite color... and I'm perfectly fine with that. The process changed my son... but he's happy, well functioning, has friends, has opinions, has ideas (some kinda wacky!) but I'd do it all again in a heart beat.
Overall, the effort has cost us (financially, health, atrophied tech skills , even socially), but it's all worth it for him. There's no comparison between hearing a roaring belly laugh from him vs. him perseverating on some toy car.
I'm hesistant to talk about it, even in the relative anonymity of my HN username, but swathes of this article read like a script covering the past few years for us.
Thankfully, we've had great success, but not without constant effort and patience on all fronts - at home, out and about, when researching, when dealing with our county and state resources, insurance company and of course all the people who have very strong opinions on all things autism.
In a nutshell, I'm all for the sort techniques the article describes alongside a sensible definition of 'normal' and most importantly selflessness in seeking what's best for your child.
If anyone reading this has an inkling to chat, feel free to use the email in my profile.