How Can I Help Someone With Autism?

* I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE CLOSE TO ME THAT HAS AUTISM,
HOW I CAN HELP?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW ANYONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
EDUCATE YOURSELF, MAKE YOUR SELF AWARE OF THIS GROWING EPIDEMIC.
WHEN YOU COME ACROSS SOMEONE, "AND YOU WILL", THAT THINKS THEY MAY HAVE AUTISM, OR HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED, TELL THEM THE ADDRESS OF OUR WEB SITE. THIS WILL HELP THEM TREMENDOUSLY. SECONDLY, LET THEM KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED. OFFER YOUR CONCERN AND SUPPORT... AFTER DIAGNOSIS, WE FIND THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAS A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS AND ARE NOT FULLY AWARE OF JUST EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH & THAT IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD FOR US, JUST THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ONE. THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE SOME ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE ON THE MATTER WILL BOTH RELIEVE AND EXCITE US THAT YOU ARE A PART OF THAT WORLD THAT MANY DO NOT UNDERSTAND...

* I HAVE A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER WITH AUTISM...
HOW CAN I HELP?

WELL, LETS JUST SAY YOU ARE AT A GREAT START, YOU ARE HERE.
THE ABOVE APPLIES TO YOU AS WELL. EDUCATE YOURSELF, AS THERE ARE MANY MISCONCEPTIONS. WE NEED YOU TO BE AWARE THAT THE JOURNEY WE ARE ON IS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL BUT EQUALLY REWARDING & WONDERFUL. WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS LEND AN UNJUDGEFUL EAR, YOUR EAGERNESS TO LEARN, AND YOUR TIME, TIME, TIME... WE WANT WHATEVER TIME YOU CAN GIVE, TO WATCH OUR CHILD ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO SEVERAL, AN EVENING, OR OVERNIGHT. YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT WE CAN BE BOTH PHYSICALLY & MENTALLY TIRED MOST OF THE TIME. WHEN YOU CARE FOR OUR CHILD FOR ANY REASON, YOU MUST BE LITERALLY UP TO DATE ON WHAT CHALLENGES AND STRENGTHS OUR CHILD IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH. THESE ISSUES LITERALLY CHANGE DAILY. THE MORE INVOLVED YOUR ARE IN OUR CHILD'S LIFE AND THEIR PROGRESS, THE EASIER IT WILL BE ON US TO GIVE YOU A QUICK UPDATE AND ENJOY THE TIME YOU HAVE BLESSED US WITH.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP? IF YOU ARE HEADED TO THE GROCERY STORE, GIVE US A QUICK CALL & SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN PICK UP. OFFER TO PICK UP OR TAKE A CHILD TO SCHOOL. OFFER TO GO ALONG WITH US TO ONE OF THE CHILD'S THERAPY SESSIONS. OUR PLATES ARE FULL, AS I'M SURE YOURS ARE AS WELL. OUR TIME IS LIMITED AND ANYTHING OFFERED IS BEYOND APPRECIATED.