By Deanna Picon, founder of Your Autism Coach, LLC (http://yourautismcoach.com) and author of The Autism Parents’ Guide to Reclaiming Your Life has declared Saturday, April 11 as a day for family members and friends to support the parents of children with autism. Apply these simple tips to make a difference in the lives of special needs parents:
• Give a well-deserved break.Managing all aspects of a child’s daily living, including personal needs, school activities, therapy and medical appointments can leave parents little personal time. Offer to watch their child at home or take him/her to a park, museum or movie for a few hours.
• Run an errand. Pick up some groceries when you shop or drop off some clothes at the dry cleaners. It’s one less, time-consuming task on their long “To Do” List.
• Share household tasks. Wash some dishes, a load of clothes or help clean the child’s room. An extra pair of hands
is always welcome.
• Bring a dish. A nice dinner or even a take-out meal can make everyone feel special and appreciated.
• Plan a fun get-together. Schedule some time, possibly when the kids are in school, to go out and have some fun. Reconnect. Go shopping or have a quick bite. It will do wonders for parents to unload the weight of the autism burden, even for an hour.
• Listen without judgement. Bring over some coffee or tea, sit down and just listen. Allow them to laugh, cry, vent and blow off some steam. No one expects you to solve their problems or even offer solutions. A shoulder to lean on works just fine.
• Acknowledge their dedication.Tell parents they’re doing a great job. Day in and day out, they’re taking care of their special needs child without as much as a “Thank You.” Words of encouragement and praise is a great morale booster.•
Seven Tips To Help Parents This Autism Awareness Month
