does anyone have a few helpful tips for parents of a child just diagnosed with aspergers syndrome?
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Answers:
First of all, I want to give you big thanks for acknowledging your child's problem and seeking help. A lot of parents of autistic/asperger kids are in denial and just end up making life harder on themselves and their families.
If your child is not being helped by a psychologist or psychiatrist, this should be number one. There are schools and particular doctors who specialize in these types of patients, and can significantly improve the quality of life for both parents and children.
I would also suggest getting into a positive behavior and helping regimen. Involve your child in everything you do at home during everyday activities. Have them help you set the table, make the bed, do the laundry -- praise them when (and only when) they immitate you correctly or repeat words or speak properly. And, when you do praise, make it HUGE praise! Aspergers children cannot pick up subtleties, so make sure you have a great big smile, and say hugely and happily "GOOD JOB (name)!!" and give them lots of physical contact like hugs, kisses, and high-fives. Not only will this reinforce the behavior, but it will also help them learn their name.
Some children with Aspergers do not listen, and this can be a huge problem for parents. In order to help ease this, you can get the whole family involved. Have one person stand on one end of the room and you and the child on the opposite (or vice versa -- it is important that the child learns to listen to a variety of adults and/or siblings) Have the person at the other end of the room say "(name) come here!", and then guide your child across the room to the person who called. Once they reach the other end of the room, give HUGE praise, and reinforce that with a treat like a small piece of food that the child enjoys. It can also serve as a fun game for any other children in the house, and will help you form a bond.
These exercises are relatively basic, but they can be very important in aiding the child's normal development and keeping them safe by realizing that they should listen to you.
A doctor can also provide you with a variety of other exercises that will help you improve the quality of you and your child's life.
Good luck!
Other Answers:
Yes. please consult the forums at
http://www.autismspeaks.org
The Diet plans at
http://www.autismndi.com
are really good. There is lots of evidence that removing gluten from the diet really helps.
Get in touch with your state health department. If your child is 0-3 years old, then you are entitled to an early interventionist and other services absolutely free of charge. They should write up an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) for you and help you get access to other services. Your child may also be eligible for Head Start (free) and many other things.
If your child is in school, talk to the special education teachers. They will write up an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for your child. The biggest law governing all of this is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), so I would look that up to learn about your rights as a parent and the responsibilities of the state and school regarding your child. The IEP will outline the services and modications your child will recieve at school, including possible modications in the way the teacher teaches, the work your child does, the way your child is tested (especially regarding state-mandated tests), social skills instructions, anything your child needs. Not every child will need every modification, a team of people (including you, your child's teacher, the special ed teachers, and possibly other people who will work with your child) will determine what is best for your child and how it should be implemented. If it is written in the IEP, the school is legally bound to do it.
The best thing you can do for your child is be an advocate for him/her. This means getting the services needed, educating teachers/friends/family about the condition and what it needs, and working for what your child needs.
Just remember that Asperger's is not a death sentence by any means. Your child can and will still grow up to lead a happy, fulfilling life, he/she just needs a little more help to get there. Enjoy your child and love him for who he/she is, no matter what. I know it's scary but it will be ok.
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