"Autism is a Sickness"

I recently attended an orientation meeting for a communication therapy program for parents & their child(ren) with ASD.

All the parents had a child the same age as Dagney and in Junior Kindergarten.  I think to gear the program for that age group and appropriate information for that age range.

Anyways, I was sitting at a table with two other parents. We chatted a little and the three of us did one of the program activities. We had to write what our children's strengths and weaknesses were. As we were one of the parents kept commenting on it as a "sickness". Like it was a bad thing. It struck me the wrong way.
Autistic kids are NOT sick. They can't be given medication for a short duration and be cured of this "sickness". Its a neurological disorder. With the proper support and help these kids can succeed too. And with their challenges comes huge strengths! Now this parent did say they didnt believe their child's diagnoses, but thats a common part of when you have a child diagnosed with anything really. I just hope this parent can see Autism as not something that is all bad, but amazing too. It can teach us as an average person just how to look at the world in a different light. I know it has made me so much more open minded and non judgemental. Support more as well!

The list of strength from parents were amazing. Its always hard to see positive when negative seems to out weigh, but it didnt in this instance.

So I guess my point to this blog was to say that ASD is not a sickness that can be cured. It doesnt work that way and ASD is something amazing as well as not all bad.

Was it MY fault.

Through out my son, Dagney's 4.5 years of life I have always questioned my parenting being a cause for his struggles and even more so once we got the final diagnoses of his diagnoses of Autism Spectrum Disorder- high functioning. A lot have gone through my mind of what could have caused it.

Was it my genes?

Was it during birth when his heart rate dropped so low for a long time?

Was it all those times he stopped breathing as a result of his severe reflux?

Was it a result of all the tests he was put through as a baby?  Ultrasounds, x rays, meckal scan, blood work.

Was it caused by my lack of connection, because I struggled with Post Partum Depression?

Was it because he struggled with colic?

I realize now that my guilt for my son's struggles is not going to help. It isn't going to accomplish anything, but feel sad and heartbroken over it. And even if I did know what exactly caused it, it wouldn't change anything. It is not like I can reverse it either and fix it.

I need to look ahead. Look for resources and community support to help him and our family. Make sure he has the best ability to thrive in his life and
give us the tools to help him.

So no more guilt rid thoughts and finding a way to blame something I have done.