Autistic dc, what now ?

[honeytime]

It has just been confirmed that my 14 year dd is autistic. Although we have suspected it for a long time that she may be on the spectrum only now she is formally diagnosed. I m feeling apprehensive at the moment. Please give me some insight from your experience how you help your autistic children or yourself to manage in general.

Anyone?

I think the fact that autism is SUCH a broad spectrum, it is difficult for people to answer.

I think, being diagnosed at 14, it might be helpful for her to be guided to some forums where she might be able to connect with other teenagers with a diagnosis of autism. (Contact the NAS or Resources for Autism, or, ask your Local Authority Autism Support Service if there is a group or forum they have either set up or that they know of).

In terms of other things MNers might be able to advise on, you perhaps need to explain a little more what aspects of life she finds challenging, and then people can advise from there.

My son found it very helpful being diagnosed with autism, it explained why he didn’t always ‘get things’ and why he was different. It has helped him especially going through the teenage years which he is in the midst of.

What sort of things does your dd struggle with? As a pp said, autism is such a wide spectrum, both my children have ASD and you couldn’t get more different children if you tried.