Author: Rebecca Manari | April 19th, 2022
What’s Going on Inside His Head?
‘I wish we could understand, for just a day, what’s going on in their minds!’
This is a comment that’s often heard from parents of children with Autism at Sethu’s ASD Parent Support Group. I often felt the same when my son struggled to tell me something. He tried so hard and I just couldn’t understand what he wanted to tell me. It’s a very helpless, painful,and frustrating experience for a parent unable to understand their child.
Soon after Robin (name changed) was diagnosed, I happened to work tirelessly in overdrive, on research, and studying as much as I could, with all my limitations as a layperson on whatever I could about Autism. One day I happened to chance upon books by Temple Grandin a result of which there was a beacon of light from a lighthouse while I was being tossed about in a stormy sea, lost, with no sense of where I was heading or if what I doing for Robin was right or wrong. I began to read her books with a passion and before long I understood just what made them so special to me.
They gave me a window into the autistic mind.
That’s what every parent wants, I guess. A window through which they can look into their child’s mind and understand a little better. My son may not be able to verbalise what he wants or have a TED talk or several bestsellers to his name like Temple, but I can look into the next best thing. Books and shared experiences from people on the autism spectrum who explain their challenges and what autism is like for them.
I remember reading about how Temple Grandin would scream in school as a child when her teacher used a long stick as a pointer on the chalkboard. She screamed because she was taught never to wave a stick around, and wanted to warn someone, but she didn’t know how to express herself appropriately.
A young boy on the autism spectrum, Ethan Lisi, described in a TED talk what masking is, and how difficult it would be to avoid stimming, doing the things that give him comfort to get through anxiety-inducing situations.
Acceptance and understanding is the first step to help us support our children.
The fabulous Autism Intervention Team at Sethu is also a great asset to all parents of children on the ASD spectrum and our families. They are more than happy to help with any questions or doubts.
There is a treasure trove of information out there in the form of books, podcasts,and websites, all contributed by brave individuals on the autism spectrum. They have given me hope, courage, education,and inspiration – I’m sure they can do the same for you! But, don’t forget to reach out to the Sethu Parent Support Group no one quite understands like another caregiver in the same situation – for parents by parents just like YOU.
The Autism Parent Support Group is here to help all parents of children with ASD. Do reach out to our parent co-ordinator for further information. You can connect with me, through Sethu: from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm on +91-7720013749.