Signs of Autism
I’ve come across some unfortunate websites and company advertisements warning parents to spot the “red flags” of autism.
Spot the signs! They say, as though they’re watching for signs of high or low blood sugar, a stroke, or some other medical emergency.
Except autism isn’t a medical emergency, it’s a neurotype — a way of thinking and being in the world that is different from the majority, not less than the majority.
When companies use terms like “warning signs” and “red flags”, they use fear-mongering to scare parents into seeking treatment and intervention as early as possible — the very interventions and treatments they are selling.
As a neurodivergent parent to a neurodivergent child, I understand the desire to do the absolute best for one’s child. I understand the anxiety, the fear that we’ll miss opportunities to provide our child what he needs at the right time in his life.
Hold up just a minute though
Think back to a time in your child’s life when you couldn’t give them something you felt you “should”. Maybe you couldn’t afford a tutor when they struggled in math, or you couldn’t sign them up for a sport they wanted to play because it didn’t work with the family schedule.
I’m sure you felt guilty (I know the feeling well), and I’m sure your child was disappointed.
For a while. Maybe everyone was disappointed for a day or two, maybe even a few weeks, but then life goes on. Unless your child is missing out on having their basic needs met— shelter, food, healthcare, love, safety, and acceptance — you’ll all probably get over it fairly quickly in the grand scheme of things.
Assuming you are feeding and clothing your child, these are the most important things your child needs from you: love and acceptance.
If you wonder whether child needs therapies, treatment, and interventions, ask yourself these questions: is this in the best interest of my child? Will this help my child feel loved and accepted for who they are? What is the goal of this program?
If your child is Autistic, I’m sorry to say that you’ll have to be alert for professionals who may believe they have children’s best interests at heart, but the therapies they offer are potentially harmful.
If your child is awesome just the way they are, but perhaps need some support or accommodations in place, then focus on those: the specific ways you and others can help improve your child’s experiences.
❤
Autism Green Flags
All that said, instead of sharing “red flags”, I will share some AuSome traits which might indicate you are (or someone you love is) Autistic.
It’s always important to mention that every person experiences their autism differently, and no two Autistics share the exact same traits.
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