If you are a parent to a child who was recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, then you need to know that you are not alone. You are not alone in your journey; you have a great support system within the Autism community. Finding various types of autism resources and Parents’ Autism Support beyond resource material or even support groups is critical when it comes to your well-being. This is why having a support system that caters to you, the parent(s), can be super beneficial for your entire family. Here at Simple Spectrum, we one hundred percent support the idea that parents need support too! So that is why we created this helpful guide with tips that you can use to make sure that you are taking care of yourself as well.

One of the best ways to feel a sense of understanding and acceptance comes from meeting other parents of children with Autism. This level of support can provide comfort and ease knowing that you can talk with other parents who understand what you are feeling. If your area does not have any local autism support groups for parents to meet other parents, you can always find a local Facebook group that is usually set up as a parents’ autism support tool. As time goes on and you become more and more involved in the Autism community, you will likely meet other parents or advocates in your area.

All parents know that the term “parental role” is more of an umbrella term for the many roles and responsibilities that they take on for their children. If you have a child with Autism, then this role can become even more demanding. Oftentimes, parents can feel overwhelmed with their duties but according to Parent’s Guide To Autism, one of the biggest and most significant roles that you will have is serving as your child’s advocate -the level at which you advocate will depend on the specific needs of your little one. Seeking autism guidance can help you navigate these responsibilities more effectively.

It can be easy to forget your own needs when you spend so much time caring for your children, but practicing self care for autism - physically and emotionally - is vital to parents’ Autism support system. Let’s face it, parenting is hard! And it can be even more challenging if you are raising a child with Autism; as rewarding as the journey can be, it can be exhausting, and that’s okay to admit.

There are so many ways that you can find support as a parent that will be beneficial to you and your family. If you would like additional information on autism support groups for parents or resource materials, we encourage you to check out a previous that we did on finding support groups in your area.