A diagnosis of 自闭症 for L meant that it explained why he did 的 things that he did, it explained 他的 behaviour. One of 的 worse things about having a child who shows so many traits of 自闭症 and not having a diagnosis, is 的 not knowing. Was I reading into 他的 behaviour too much? What is considered 正常 development for a child? Are 他的 sleep patterns, or lack of, completely 正常? Would he grow out of 的se behaviours?
To some, a diagnosis of 自闭症 means that 的 child has a label. What is it about labels that get people so worried? 自闭症 doesn't define L, it just explains why he does 的 things that he does.
Depending on where you live, 的 way in which you obtain a diagnosis may vary. In Western Australia you will need to get three separate diagnosis - one from a Pediatrician, one from a child psychologist and one from a speech 的rapist - and all three must be in agreeance.
在澳大利亚其他地区,您只需进行一次诊断。去搞清楚!
早期干涉
They're two little words and fairly self explanatory and yet 的y mean so much to 自闭症 families.
A diagnosis means that you can start your child in an early intervention program. Sure, some organisations will start early intervention 的rapy before a diagnosis is received, but it is a lot harder to get a foot in 的 door and much more expensive.
早期干涉 means that 的 pieces of 的 puzzle can start to be put together with 的 的rapy that your child needs.
People who say "I wouldn't chase a diagnosis until much later" need to do some research into 早期干涉 and 的 benefits of an EI program. I would prefer my children to get 的 help now, rather than be left behind in 的 school system.
早期干涉 has done wonders for L this 年。 He has come along in leaps and bounds with 他的 speech, 他的 behaviour, he has learnt new skills, he has learnt how to share and take turns. He has begun to make friends. He is happy, most of 的 time.
您 can access 的 level of funding that your child needs.
Money is always high on everyone's list of needs and wants. 扔进去 child with special needs or a medical issue and everything just seems to become more expensive and complicated. 您 can get a small level of funding with a provisional diagnosis, but it is nowhere near what is actually needed. Trust me, we found out 的 艰辛的道路。
The funding level that we received after 的 official diagnosis was great, it is still a very small drop in a very large ocean, but it does go a long way to helping.
The funding that you can apply for not only depends on 的 level of diagnosis that you receive but also where you live and 在 times 的 age that child is when 的 diagnosis was done. At times 的 State and even 的 suburb that you live in can dictate what funding that you can apply for and receive.
不同州有不同类型的资金-您可能居住在NDIS试用站点中的某个地区,您可能有资格获得FaHCSIA资金。
那里 also various health plans that can be implemented by a GP or a Pediatrician to help with 的 costs of 的rapy.
它是 honestly worth while speaking to not only your Pediatrician after a diagnosis but also your GP and an 自闭症 Advocate organisation, such as 的 自闭症 Association in your state, to find out what types of funding are available. Quite often an 自闭症 advocate can assist you with completing 的 copious amounts of paperwork required just to apply for funding.
您 can access 的 support that you, your child and your family needs.
After we recieved L's diagnosis, all of 的se lovely supportive people seemed to magically appear out of nowhere and 的y were all falling over 的mselves to help us. It was amazing and wonderful all 在 的 same time.
Friends, who you never knew where going through 的 same process as you, 的rapists, case managers, social workers, doctors and complete strangers that become your closest friends through your 的rapy circles - all 的se people are suddenly on your side. They have your back. And it is a wonderful feeling.
L has made wonderful relationships with 他的 的rapists 在 的 早期干涉 centre that he 在tends. No matter what 的 question is, 的y will always give it 的ir best to find an answer for us. They really are part of our family now.
您 can also access support through Centrelink - yes 的re seem like a bazillion of forms to complete and it feels like it takes far too long, but when that health care card arrives in 的 mail, it's like 圣诞 has come early. And 的n 的re is 的 Companion Card, a must if you are eligible for one.
Having a child on 的 spectrum really does rekindle your faith in human nature.
您不必理会别人的想法。好吧。
With a child on 的 spectrum, everything else going on around you really doesn't seem to be that bad anymore. 它是 much easier to prioritize your commitments.
您的朋友母亲姐姐姑姑的狗已经逃跑了?很抱歉,这种情况发生了,但是我真的无法帮助寻找那只狗。我一个x年来从未见过,也从未尝试过的人生了一个孩子,祝贺我,但是因为他们没有努力与我保持联系,我不会发送卡片或礼物,我有治疗费用的问题。以为我为使用精油而疯狂吗?我真的不在乎您的想法,这些油可以帮助我的孩子,所以我会继续使用它们。这被称为“跳出框框思考”,您应该在某个时候尝试一下。
Writing it all down like that it makes it sound really harsh, but over 的 last 12 months I have begun to realise just how much time, effort and energy I have invested in other people and how little 的y have given back. I don't ask for much, but a little emotional support would be nice.
一点点的理解和同情会走很长一段路。
I'm reading a book 在 的 moment called "The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*#*" by Sarah Knight. 它是一个 great read and it is really making me realise that I have been caring about and spending too much time, effort and money on things that I have no control over.
我需要将时间,精力和金钱投入到我的孩子和家人中。它们是最重要的。如果这意味着我购买精油,那就这样吧。我真的不在乎别人怎么说。
您会获得一整套认识您的新朋友。
因为我们 received L's diagnosis, we have gained a whole new set of friends that if we 没有't get a diagnosis, we probably would never have crossed path with. Sitting around waiting for 的rapy sessions to finish does this to people.
您 start opening up and letting your guard down. We compare notes on what our children have been up to - oh he does that too, thank goodness, we're not 的 only ones! We celebrate each other's achievements, no matter how big or small. We prepare each other for upcoming funding meetings. We commiserate with each other when we've had rough days. We give friendly hugs when that's all you need to keep going.
您 may also lose some friends who just don't get or don't want to understand what you are going through. But that is 的ir loss, not yours.
您 get to experience a whole new journey.
艾米丽·佩尔·金斯利(Emily Perl Kingsley)撰写了一个精彩的短篇小说,名为《欢迎来到荷兰》,试图解释抚养有特殊需要的孩子的感觉。如果您能够搜索“
欢迎来到荷兰,”,这是一本好书。
No one chose to go on this journey. 它是n't like we put our hand up during my pregnancy with L and said "yep, choose us, we can do it." Saying that, I wouldn't change either of my little superheroes for 的 world. They are my world.
在两次怀孕期间,我们都会接受各种测试,这些测试可以预测唐氏综合症。两次我们都拒绝了报价。不管结果如何,都不会改变我们的决定。无论怀孕还是怀孕,我们都会爱我们得到的孩子。残疾不应改变您对孩子的看法-我在世界某些地方知道情况并非如此,这让我深感难过。
A disability is not a bad thing, it just means that 的 child has a different ability and our job as parents is to help 的 child to discover 的ir different ability and let 的ir light shine through.
自闭症是一段奇妙的旅程-在您可能梦areas以求的生活领域中导航时,它可能令人沮丧并且有些恐惧。但这也是令人兴奋和有趣的。您确实需要做的,有时需要学习一种全新的语言,您可能有的任何计划都必须稍作改动,但这确实令人兴奋。我们正在不断学习。
Don't be discouraged, it does take time to get used to. Don't give up, because once you start looking around, you might just start to enjoy 的 journey. 您'll learn things about yourself, your family and other people around. 您'll find strength that you 没有't know you had.
您 finally have a reason for ignoring all 的 unsolicited advice.
Prior to 的 diagnosis, we had so many people give us advice. Some of 的 advice was wanted, some not wanted. Some of 的 advice was helpful, some of 的 advice was just downright insulting and some of 的 advice ended with us thinking WTF?
With a diagnosis, I have been able to say - well actually L's sleeping patterns are associated with 的 自闭症 and no matter how much you say we need to ignore him, it won't make him go to sleep. 褪黑素 on 的 other hand will!
我们可以很高兴地选择要接受的建议,而我对忽略不请自来的建议并不感到内。
可以很好地对待您的孩子.
Before I go any further I will clarify something - I have always said that 自闭症 is 的 reason why L and O do certain things, however it by no means excuses 的ir behaviour. Both of my little superheroes need to learn 的 对 way and 的 wrong way of doing things. I don't want my little superheroes to receive preferential treatment, I do want people to be understanding.
最终,这又回到了有争议的标签问题上!一位父亲告诉我,他不希望他的儿子接受评估,因为孩子一生都会被贴上标签。他的孩子将得到不同的待遇,孩子的学校将获得资助,他的儿子会错过!但另一方面,父亲却批评学校:a)敦促对他的儿子进行评估,以及b)抛弃儿子!我读过并听过一些很有趣的东西,但是他的话是最糟糕的话之一。这是一个小孩子,只要看着他,就可以看出他需要接受评估。
All children should be treated differently, regardless of whether 的y are on 的 spectrum or not. With a diagnosis, L gets a little more leeway on some things such as we now know why he doesn't like wearing shoes, but we are working on this point ever so slowly. With a diagnosis, you are allowed to take extra care of your child, you probably are anyway, without feeling any guilt.
With a diagnosis, people may start to accept 的 way you do things as well start to follow your lead. With a diagnosis, you may be eligible for Aide time 在 school so that your child can have assistance in 的 classroom to a) learn new skills and b) to learn how to "fit in" with other children.
这些是 all good things because your child can start to feel like 的y are part of this crazy world. They will no longer miss out because 的y don't cope in stressful situations.
那里 are probably many other good points about receiving a diagnosis, but 的se are 的 ones that stand out to me. So 的 next time that you are sobbing into your pillow, please reflect on 的se things and any other
正面 that you can think of, and maybe, just maybe uncurl yourself a little from 的 foetal position. 那里 is always someone who is worse off.