Networking To Find Autism Advocate Bay Area

By Enid Hinton


Becoming a new parent is typically one of the most life changing events most people ever experience. There really is nothing to prepare someone for the over whelming sense of responsibility they will feel. Having the care of a helpless infant in their hands is a very profound experience. Yet for some parents the changes are far more intense. When a baby or young child is diagnosed with a disability the responsibilities are even more intense.

Each year many thousands of children are diagnosed on the Autism spectrum. It is at this time that parents should seek out an autism advocate Bay area. These experienced individuals are often parents themselves who have spent years negotiating they system and know all the challenges the new parent faces. They can provide both emotional and practical support to help everyone achieve their full potential.

Most autistic children are not diagnosed at birth. The sad irony of the situation is that most families leave the hospital with no idea that anything is wrong and no clue about the difficulties that lie ahead. They have no way to prepare for the changes that will happen to them. Being unable to prepare is one of the hardest things to cope with and many parents say this makes them feel as though they have let their child down in many ways. Moving ahead after such negative feelings is crucial and an essential part of the overall recovery process.

Any Bay area parent who has concerns should discuss them with their family doctor. This will usually lead to a referral to a specialist. Complete psychological evaluations will need to be done that will indicate the child's strengths and weaknesses. Simply having a speech delay does not mean that the child is autistic. However, an accurate diagnosis is needed so that the correct interventions can be arranged.

It takes many years of experience to learn about the laws surrounding special education and related services. There are many ways to secure necessary services without having to resort to confrontation. Parents need to know how important it is to maintain a cordial relationship with the local school system so that they get the best for their child. It is also important to be able to meet with teachers and school personnel on a regular basis.

In addition to emotional support a good advocate will also help with the practical aspects of life. This will begin with getting the very best services for each and every child. Some children need intensive help with speech and language, whilst others may need more support in social skills.

Advocates are especially valuable when a child enters the school system. The special education laws exist to support children and their families, yet there are often struggles and issues to be resolved.

Most local agencies will help to connect parents with local advocacy groups. However, word of mouth is also a valuable resource. Many people also go on line to find their nearest group. All of these methods can be tremendously helpful to the entire family. After all there is so much that can be done to help every autistic child.




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