Sara's Autism Site: How will I know if it is autism?
​                                             Or, if it's just - 'if he isn't here, he's some other place!'


 Hello Everyone,
                                               
Parents often must wait days, weeks, and even months for assessments or doctor appointments. During this stressful time, it's good to feel that you are actively helping your child. This can become an important time of clarifying what bothers you the most or is dangerous about your child's behavior and development. Video tape what you are seeing and how your child acts throughout those concerning times. 'Seeing is believing' for someone new to your child. Knowing autism and knowing your child will give you hope.
 
Prioritize your child's 'needs' and your 'wants'. Try teaching your child age appropriate 'developmental skills' that are non-invasive. See what works and what doesn't. This will help you when eventually, you will have to choose from available programs, therapies, and services which are offered. Some are quite expensive, so understand your child well enough to know what will probably work and what absolutely won't. You can only know this by trying some things on your own. On the MENU, you will find some ideas on where to start to discover who your child is 'behind' the autism.
 
Where to start & what to do while you wait! There is a lot of material here, but as you 'di the work' you may find avenues to the answers you need.

​Know Autism, Know Your Child 
#1 Red Flags & Checklist: How will I know?
#2 Diagnosis, Denial, & Doctors
#3 Prioritize Concerns
#4 Programs & Therapies
#5 Know Your Child
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Slideshow GALLERY of Books with Extended Book Reviews, by CATEGORY ~
 
     AMAZING ADVENTURES
     DIAGNOSIS, DENIAL, & DOCTORS
     SAVVY SOLUTIONS
     SCHOOL ON THE SHORT BUS
 
Extended Book Reviews with < My Thoughts > & LINKs ~ to find…GO TO NAVIGATION MENU 
(3 stripes in upper-left-hand corner of the webpage).
 
Some of < My Thoughts >

Loving your children... keeping them safe...
& finding out how they learn is part of what parenting is all about!

Each child learns differently & each parent 'parents' differently.
This website hopefully becomes a continuing source of information for you. 

Whether autistic or neurotypical, each child relates, reacts, responds differently to their world.

When a child has difficulty learning about themselves & their world... or, developing slowly it isn't always AUTISM. 

And, if it is AUTISM... know that it's NO ONE'S fault. The exact cause of AUTISM is yet unknown.

​What is known is that it is a NEUROLOGICAL difference in the child's brain.

This difference is possibly caused by an interaction of genes & environment.

The child's development pattern begins to look different from other children their same age.

This difference can be from mild to severe. From the child you expected, to the passive 'quiet' child to the 'wild' child you didn’t expect.
 
Learn to anticipate what makes your child anxious, and/or frustrated.

What a child may be willing or able to do one day, or one minute, they may not be willing or able the next.
 
Create cautious changes and build ‘success’ into those changes.
 
Discover where your child is and decide where you want them to be.

You are struggling to bring your child into your world, while s/he is struggling just as hard to stay where s/he is.
 
Persistence pays off, even if you only move forward slightly.
 
Alert yourself to possibilities. Strengthen your resolve.
 
S/he is not intending to give you a ‘bad time’… s/he is having a ‘bad time’.

Getting to know your child & getting help is the key. Early intervention works!
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THANKS SO MUCH! Sara Luker

Know Autism – Know Your Child: With < My Thoughts > by Sara Luker; 2021
 
DISCLAIMER

The content of this material, digital or in any other form does not represent medical advice; nor does it constitute medical suggestions in any way. The material, including any downloadable parts, is for informational and/or educational purposes only. Your download and/or use of this material indicates your acceptance of this disclaimer.
 
With 30 years as an autism mom, as an educator with a current State Teaching License (ending 2023), and a 2011 Master’s Degree in Special Education, this author shares her personal study, opinions, and experiences concerning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and related topics. The author’s mention of products, services, treatments, and interventions are not to be considered an endorsement, thereof. Nor does the author represent that any described products, services, treatments, and/or interventions expect to ‘cure’, or have any ‘long-term’ positive effect on a disorder or disease.

Furthermore, understand and agree that this material is not intended as a substitute for consultations with licensed healthcare professionals. Nothing in this material is expected to diagnose, treat, imply 'cure', or prevent any condition, disorder, or disease.  Any errors or omissions in the available subject matter, Units, Chapters, References, Charts, Tables, Appendices, LINKS, and/or other downloadable or non-downloadable materials are unintentional. Revisions in the material may be subject to change without notice.
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