This can be a problem for parents or individuals first hearing a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder or Asperger's. TMI = TMGT. Too much information can be too much of a good thing when you are trying to figure out what ASD or Aspberger's means for you or your child.
If you've read the posts about my daughter Clara-Bear's Autism diagnosis, you know that we felt left alone to sort through a large, generic list of resources to try to figure out what applied to Clara-Bear and our family. We were on our own to set priorities and create step 1.
I have always used action as a means of coping with Clara-Bear's Special Needs. Wasting time sorting through irrelevant information quickly left me feeling powerless, ineffective, depressed, and angry.
Here are my tips for individual new to Autism or Asperger's who might need help getting their search for answers organized and prioritized.
1. Stop and feel your feelings before jumping into research. Even if you have a number to call, it's okay to take a break and process before seeking out step 1. Using action to cope is a positive, using action to avoid dealing with your feelings is a negative.
2. Don't try to do it alone. Make finding an ally to give your search for information some structure your first step. Your ally can be a professional, another parent, a group, or an Autism information site. The main thing is, you need to trust and relate to whomever is helping you. This is why some parents read a book or visit a site and call it life changing, and others are left feeling frustrated. Since Autism Interventions is a very broad category and effectiveness of interventions is very personalized, you might need different allies for different interventions. Hopefully, your first ally will guide you to others.
3. Seek out other parents for advice. Some people think that support and awareness groups are just a big pity party. In reality, the parent to parent advice they offer can cut out a lot of time wasters. You don't always have to attend meetings or formally join a group. Sometimes you can call and ask to be connected with someone who can walk you through the system, with no obligation to join.
4. Use Internet based support wisely. Having multiple parents or individuals answer your questions is a great way to narrow your search for information. It can also help you connect with others whose situations are similar to your own. Take your time reading forums and online groups. Lurk, browse, and use the site search engines to see if your questions have already been discussed. Each site is a community, and you want to make sure you fit into that community and are comfortable with its members. You also want a chance to evaluate some of the answers given and make sure that it's true information, not spam.
5. Ask for more specific follow up information. I regret that I did not choke down my feelings about the Psychologist who diagnosed Clara-Bear enough to call and tell her that her resource list was too general. After three hours with Clara-Bear, she should have been able to give me a reference to a professional or organization who was suited to meet Clara-Bear's unique needs. I should have demanded it, for my daughter's sake.
You might also like:
Directory of Blogs with Tips for Individuals New to Autism or Asperger's
Clara-Bear's Autism Diagnosis Part 1: Why Mommy was so Angry
Autism is my Interior Designer
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