What are the best strategies for a single parent with a child with autism?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as each child with autism is unique and may have different needs and challenges. However, here are some strategies that may be helpful for single parents with a child with autism.

Seeking support from family and friends. It can be overwhelming to be a single parent, especially when you have a child with special needs. It is important to reach out to your support network and ask for help when you need it. Having a strong support system is very important. They say it takes a tribe to raise children well the add some extra members to that tribe when you have a child with autism. A strong support system is important. For us it has been family members, friends, therapists even our neighbors! There is no shame in asking for help from those in our support network.

Finding resources in your community. Many communities have organizations and resources specifically designed to support families of children with autism. These can include therapy centers, support groups, and educational programs. Finding the right therapist and therapy centers can truly be life changing. In our case, we tried at home ABA for nine months. Which ended up not being the best fit for our family. We interviewed and visited a few ABA centers and found one that has been amazing. Robert has made big improvements and his therapist are wonderful. Seeing him grow and thrive has truly been life changing. Here in the Tampa Bay we have a great resource center provided by USF known as CARD.
http://card-usf.fmhi.usf.edu/

Keeping a routine and staying organized can be a huge help. Having a good system for organizing your child’s schedule, appointments, and other responsibilities can help make your life as a single parent more manageable. Robert thrives on routine! Which can be thrown off by the holidays or custody schedules. So planning ahead and scheduling activities he enjoys were a huge help. Also keeping in touch with his therapist and working with them to provided him with a few hours of therapy while during the holidays were a huge help.

Prioritizing self-care is not only important for ourselves as parents but more importantly for our family. It is important to take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally, in order to be able to support your child. Make sure to carve out time for activities that help you relax and recharge. Which can be as simple as going for a walk, reading a few pages from a book, or taking a hot shower! Trust me taking care of us allows us to care for others. We cannot give from empty cup.

Seeking professional support. If you are feeling overwhelmed or struggling to manage your child’s autism, consider seeking help from a mental health professional or other support services. Such as therapist or support groups.

At the end of the day we are all doing the best we can with what we have. It is important that no matter what, you as a parent know that you are doing a good job. Being a parent of an autistic child can feel lonely at times, but trust me when I say you are not alone.

Isabel