Parents with autistic children?!
Question: I have autism in my extended family and I find that the parents or atleast on the parents really limits the childs possibilities of growth by making comments like "oh she'll never be able to do this or that because that is just how autistic kids are". This child is functional and she has come a long way, and you have to contribute this yes to the parents catching it early and putting her into therapies, but being on the outside looking in I can see this child able to do anything. It's almost like the parent is afraid to push her to much, I see this child really manipulating situations because she know she can in certain situations. I know how tough it is on parents to see your kids struggle, but is there anything that I can do to help this family member see that she may be limiting her child?
Answers: I have autism in my extended family and I find that the parents or atleast on the parents really limits the childs possibilities of growth by making comments like "oh she'll never be able to do this or that because that is just how autistic kids are". This child is functional and she has come a long way, and you have to contribute this yes to the parents catching it early and putting her into therapies, but being on the outside looking in I can see this child able to do anything. It's almost like the parent is afraid to push her to much, I see this child really manipulating situations because she know she can in certain situations. I know how tough it is on parents to see your kids struggle, but is there anything that I can do to help this family member see that she may be limiting her child?
Hard situation! The child really needs Encouragement, if her parents keep saying she'll never do something around her. She will probley believe it herself. Alot of times parents think they are protecting thier kids and really they are not. I used to work in a group home and have dealt with this alot with parents. Maybe someone told them that thier child could never do certain things so they believe it. I would say just use encouraging words and suggest they at least try certain things. I used to always tell parents thier child had great potential, waiting inside them to come out! If you say that enough maybe they will see it!! Hope this helps!
perhaps you could spend a day on your own with this child, then you might just see it from their parents point of view
I too am autistic, but I see the problem exactly the opposite. I think that parents look at autism as some sort of mysterious neurological defect, like cerebral palsy or aphasia. Therefore they think it can be cured by special training.
But what if autism is an emotional problem. If that's the case, then parents who insist on behavior modification therapy are simply guaranteeing that their children will never outgrow their autism. My mother used to slap the **** out of me in order to modify behavior she saw as inappropriate, albeit peaceable.
I know Bettelheim used to do the same thing, but that was only in response to violent behavior. Plus, he wasn't the kids' mother.