Ten top hints for helping a newly-diagnosed autistic child

Any parent whose child is diagnosed with autism at a very young age can tell you that the information available on the Internet and elsewhere can be overwhelming. Some treatments are too extreme, while others are experimental and possibly even harmful to your special child. Here are ten things that I did within the first year following my son’s diagnosis that made a difference, without breaking the bank or delving into the unknown of scientific experimentation:

1. Eliminate food allergies - In my son’s case, I suspected milk was causing him to have gastrointestinal problems. I “experimented” by removing all dairy from his diet, which seemed to help a bit. However, I felt that milk contained many nutrients my son’s growing body needed, such as fat, calcium and protein. I had read that difficulty digesting milk protein could be causing the dairy sensitivity, and that by adding probiotics to his milk these friendly bacteria could help predigest the proteins, making it easier to digest. I made a mixture of 50% organic strawberry Kiefer (similar to drinkable yogurt) and 50% whole milk. This concoction also helped replace the “friendly bacteria” he lost due to numerous bouts of ear infections and treatments with antibiotics.
2. Apply for a handicap parking permit - My son had great difficulty making the transition from parking lots to any store. He posed a threat to himself and others by melting down around moving vehicles. Do not feel guilty about taking advantage of the handicapped parking permit option, as you may well be protecting your child from serious harm. As he or she gets older and better able to handle those difficult transitions, you can retire the permit. Ask your local Department of Motor Vehicles for more information.
3. Add a multi-vitamin to his diet - I was very concerned about my son’s nutrition due to his picky eating habits. Because he could not swallow a pill and did not like “candy” or the vitamins shaped like candy, I purchased liquid vitamins. I added the recommended dosage to his daily strawberry milk (see #1). If you eliminate milk from his diet, the vitamins can be added to juice.
4. Read to your child - With my son, I was not able to read from a traditional book to him. I tried, to no avail, sitting with him and reading pages only to be met with screams and frustration. Then I discovered “books” on children’s websites. He loved the computer, and sat patiently while I read to him, “turning” the electronic pages on the computer.
5. Use educational videos - Educational DVDs from Baby BumbleBee, LeapFrog and others helped my son understand language. While these tools should not be your child’s only source of education, many children with autism can make more sense of things when visual examples are used. Sit with your child and talk to him about what he is watching to make best use of these tools.
6. Use visual supports to communicate - If you have your own computer and color printer with Internet access, you can begin to create a library of picture icon cards for use in teaching your child to communicate. There are many websites with free cards for download, or you can purchase ready-made cards or your own software for creating your own cards.
7. Create a schedule for your child - Many young children have not mastered the concept of time. To your child, it may seem an eternity that he is in pre-school or daycare. If you create a schedule using your visual supports, you can help your child understand that certain sequences of events will occur, and end, often with a final event that he enjoys. Nonverbal children can be helped immensely by giving them a visual timeline of events.
8. Exercise with your child - Each child with autism is unique, and some may not tolerate going to the park or other places that involve a lot of sensory stimulation. Our son, initially, could not tolerate parks, so we bought him a small trampoline. I would jump with him to engage in his world. His occupational therapist also told me that physical activity combined with verbalizations (he would make humming noises while jumping) was helping build the connections in his brain for language. He went from humming on his trampoline to commenting on things within his frame of vision!
9. Recruit friends and family - Although your child may not initially be interested in outsiders invading his world, he may eventually come to tolerate it and even like it. Find a friend or two and/or a close relative who has the patience to try to interact with your child. It will help you to have someone who can provide relief for you (through babysitting), and help your child begin to understand and enjoy socialization.
10. Detox your child’s life - There is much controversy over what causes autism, and whether heavy metals and toxins play a role in your child’s condition. I came to the conclusion that we all have too many toxins in our lives, and chose to use organic products and foods. While I had heard about Chelaton, I felt (and still feel) that this is too extreme and dangerous an option for my child. I also felt that having my child ingest anything to rid his body of toxins was too harsh for his sensitive body. I finally discovered something I do like: detoxifying foot patches. These patches are completely non-invasive and safe to use. I used them on myself first, and found that my migraines and other aches and pains were greatly lessened within a month’s time. These patches are applied to the feet overnight, and by morning dangerous toxins and metals are removed from your body and absorbed into the pads. I liked the Takara brand best. I would recommend these to parents who are seeking a means to detox their child, without risking harm.

There are countless things you can do to help your child; these are what worked for us. You can begin to empower yourself by trying these ten, and soon you'll be ready for more!