parents supporting parents

In response to -:
Observation of a Parent Support Group Antioch University New England
Advocacy Applications for Working with Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
5/14/2007
Elizabeth Macodnald May 18, 2007.
Everything we do as parents and educators has a tremendous impact on outcomes for our children. Educators and families are fortunate to have the resources to give their utmost to the children in their care, and should give thought to the sustainability of those resources. It seems all too common that the parent, predominately mothers have "put everything on hold" while they ‘fight’ for their child. As a parent with a child who has Autism, I know there is little choice in how we spend our time. No other parent however invested will do for our children what we do, and no teacher however dedicated is held accountable in the way that I hold myself responsible for the well being of my child.
The parents in the support group you experienced are undoubtedly relentless in their pursuit of the best education for their children, but they as individuals themselves may be in a holding pattern, waiting to return to the person they used to be before the diagnosis, before the challenges of behaviors, before the stakes became so high. In these circumstances families may be vulnerable; relationships may be under pressure and children might feel that they are at the center of the stress and anxiety. The support group is hopefully part of a larger wrap-around network of family, friends, educational and other professionals coming together for the good of everyone, but especially for the good of the child. It saddened me to hear that the group was not well attended, and I hope that the two are not discouraged and continue to find support from one another at the very least.