Ashleigh's Autism Diagnosis

I just read this great article written by a mom about her daughter being diagnosed with Autism.  Read it HERE.  

Ashleigh was diagnosed with Autism when she was 12 with the help of my brother and brother in law (Thanks), who told me to get her tested after spending some time with Ash. I was noticing things not normal for her age. I asked Matthew and Robert to spend some time with her and tell me if I should. They came back with yes, get her tested. Ashleigh is still Ashleigh even with the Autism diagnosis. We now know what those not normal things were and others like afraid of sounds, talking loudly, her eye contact was not good, how she repeated phrases that others have said, how she laughs when it is not funny or laughs when someone else has & not get the joke, she wonders off, afraid of thunderstorms, and easily distracted. I am not sure if back then she flapped her hands. I wished we would have gotten her tested earlier. Years before we did. The services we could have had for her. Now there is no services for a child with Autism after they are 14. Asheigh does receive Wrap Around and has therapists in our home to help us with her and us with her Autism diagnosis. Like how to handle her meltdowns. I wonder when Ashleigh first went into the Wrap Around program if her bad behaviors were due to the Autism. Her not being able to handle her environment around her. She acted out. Throw things, rip books, etc apart, did not listen to what we told her. I have been thinking of this lately. The what if we knew back then and how things could have been easier for her and us.

This is my favorite part of this article. I know that Ashleigh's Autism diagnosis does not change or define her, but gives her the tools for a better future.

"The diagnosis is important because it ensures that we will learn how to give her the tools to be successful, so she can carve the life she wants for herself — just like any other parent with a child on or off the spectrum. Although I have no idea what the future will bring, I do know that she will have the life she wants for herself — whatever life that will look like — because she is more than the sum of her symptoms and no diagnosis will change her or define her."

If you think your child has Autism, getting the diagnosis does not change your child, but gives your resources that will help you.

Melissa