Position: Why I think therapists of children with autism should read blogs regarding Autism Advocacy

My thoughts on Autism Advocacy got some traffic today. Interestingly enough--that was the most traffic that my blog has EVER received in one day. I guess I need to start writing about more issues and less about Post Secret and random Google searches. Fun things, indeed, but not much for conversation, I guess. Anyway--since I posted about Autism Advocacy and then stated that I think therapists should read these blogs, I thought I might take the time to state why I believe that.

Let me preface my position by, again, stating that this is a PERSONAL opinion and not the opinion of my current nor any of my previous employers.

I believe that people who support, teach, or provide therapy to people with Autism should take the time to understand how someone with Autism might feel about all these things that are done on their behalf. I feel the same about someone who works in a Domestic Abuse shelter--it might be nice to get the perspective from a victim.

Another example would be someone who is a drug or alcohol counselor. It might be nice for some one who is counseling an addict to listen to the addict's perspective directly from the addict. Not only from the addict's family, teachers, caregivers or other supports. All those people have the addict's best interest in mind and want to help, but there is also benefit in taking the time to listen to the person being helped--even if that person is communicating nonverbally. As a therapist, I believe that I am MOST effective when I understand the person I am directly trying to help. That is--the person with Autism.

Because I expect this of myself, I expect my staff to strive for the same understanding too.

Autism Acceptance and Advocy

One of the things that I struggle with most as a Senior Therapist in an intensive in-home therapy program is the advocacy and acceptance of autism. I struggle with this not for myself, but for many of the staff I supervise and the parents I support. I struggle with this because I see each child I work with as a unique and interesting person just as they are and it saddens me that so many of the families support feel like they need to "fix" their child. Don't get me wrong--I want to help each child be the absolute best person that he or she can be. I want them to reach their full potential. But--I want them to do it with dignity and honor. I want them to do it with understanding on my part--not with me forcing them to "comply" with their loved one's standard of normal. I walk a fine line as a Senior Therapist. Here are some wonderful advocacy links that I think ALL therapists who work with children with autism should take the time to read.

The Autism Acceptance Project
Autism Diva