A friend just found out her 3 year old son is autistic. Does anyone have experience with this?

Question

How can I help her? What programs are available to assist the family, and as a parent of an autistic child, what advice can you give?

Answer 1

Since he's already 3 years old, she should contact the school district to get him into the early childhood program with IEP. Also, she needs to talk to her son's Drs (It may be his regular pediatrician) to get additional Speech, Ocuppational & developmental therapies. If should check into biochemical treatment: DAN doctors, biochemical centers(like Pfeiffer Treatment Center in IL), or get into Kirkman Lab web site & buy Super Nu-thera, DMG, Omega 3, etc... She should also try to get her son into a Gluten & Caseine free diet... She may check if her comunity center offer programs for children with Autism (this programs are therapeutic)... If you guys live in a state with have passed a law to pay additional treatment for Autstic Children, She should concider get him into ABA therapy... If your friend doesn't have enough resource, she can apply for Medicare & SS for her child. There are also a web site meetup.com in which she can find group of parents that chat about Autism, treatments, diet, playdate, etc... My advice to your friend is to start medical & therapy intervention as soon as possible. "The sooner the better is".

I also recomend her to buy the book Facing Autism by Lynn Hamilton. It's the best guide about Autism on the market. The autor explains what to do & how... She is a mother of an autistic child, so her explanations are very clear

Answer 2

I am not a paent of an autistic child but, my friends son is autistic. I can't tell you the level   of his autisim cause i dont know that information. I do know that he was not speaking and would zone out like autistic kids do. He is 5 now. . He goes to a great school,receives additional therapy, he sleeps with a heavy weight blanket as part of his therapy.  He is so well behaved and polite...his speech is  still not clear, but he ca make his self understood. He is a delight to have around. Last night he was tired and really wanted his dad to hurry so he could go home....he said Goodnight everyone! He went to everyone in the room and gave them a kiss goodnight.

Answer 3

I recommend that she have him evaluated by a speech therapist and an occupational therapist at the very least.  Occupational therapists will address sensory issues that are often seen in children in autism.  Speech therapist will address the social and communication skills which are typically the factors that lead to a diagnosis of autism.  Often times co-treating occupational and speech therapy can be very beneficial too!  With some children, when they are engaged in the sensory activities that an occupational therapist will do, they perform better with their socialization and communication skills.  I also recommend a special needs pre-school to, again, help with socialization.  These are just a few ideas.  Without knowing how he is (how severe, what characteristics led to his diagnosis etc.) its really difficult to give a lot of advice because the autism spectrum is sooooo very wide.  

Answer 4

she should contact the local school system about special ed preschool and therapy that he may need. She should also contact the local MR/DD agency and ask them what resources are available to her and her son.

she should also google autism and research as much as she can on it. Knowledge is power. She should also ask his doctors what she can do to help him.