April is Autism Awareness month. It’s a special month for parents of children with this complicated disorder that is often misunderstood.
For parents of children with special needs, you know that this can be a lonely place. One of the challenges of a child that is neuro-diverse is that resources seem slim, and understanding by fellow parents, caregivers and relatives is scarce. As a parent of a child with some developmental delays, I know this lonely world quite well. Thanks to Facebook for some incredibly helpful support groups that have helped me navigate all the various therapies, challenges and days when I’ve felt like nothing but a failure for one reason or another. We’re blessed to have that amazing team of therapists through both AACPS and private therapists for helping us through every step of the way as well. Our county has amazing early intervention specialists that I am so glad to have the support of.
However, I know that I’m lucky. There are children out there that have many more challenges than my son does - the parent of those children that I see at speech therapy or our occupational therapy - those parents are the real heroes. Any parent really has to be a champion for their child as I’ve learned, but parents of special needs kiddos have many more hurdles to jump over to make sure their kiddo is set up for success, and those hurdles don’t always come easy.
Thankfully, as we’ve navigated this course, I’ve found a handful of incredible organizations in our area to assist with parents and caregivers of special needs. Here are just a few nonprofits that help families and individuals with Autism.
The Coordinating Center - This organization located in Millersville, provides services and support for those with complex medical needs and disabilities. They offer support to help those in need with the Autism Waiver - an option for low-income families or individuals to receive support and treatment if they have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Pathfinders Autism Resource Center - Founded by parents of children with Autism, Pathfinders for Autism is Maryland’s largest Autism organization. They offer resources, programs and information for the community and those impacted by ASD, most for free.
Whole Self Center - Located in Gambrills, the Whole Self Center provides support services, respite care, consulting, life planning and therapeutic integration for children and adolescents with ASD and their families.
Parents Place of Maryland - This Glen Burnie nonprofit began as a grassroots effort of community members who wanted to provide resources, support, and information for parents of children with special needs. They now serve as Maryland’s Parent Training and Information Center supporting thousands of families through programs and services.
Other Resouces
There are also larger, nationwide organizations like Autism Speaks and the Autism Society that offer support groups and events for parents and caregivers. Kennedy-Krieger Institute based in Baltimore (with offices also in Odenton and Columbia), also offers support groups and has a variety of services for parents of children with Autism and other related disorders.
Let’s face it, parenting is a lonely world. Resources sometimes seem slim when you’re raising a child that has ANY challenge that seems “out of the norm.” But really, sometimes when I get frustrated with our daycare for their seeming lack of understanding or when I get anxious about whether my son will be successful or bullied or any other worry that every parent has at some point in time, I wonder: What is normal and why does that matter? It doesn’t. Every inch of my five year old is perfect and I wouldn’t be the mama-bear I am without having faced the challenges and hurdles we’ve encountered over the past few years.
