Hi! I’m new. My sweet 2 year old was a NICU baby. He was born at 29 weeks and spent 2 months in the NICU. He was just diagnosed with level 2 autism. This diagnosis was not necessarily shocking and at first it was a relief because we knew his regressions were indicative of autism but his pediatrician was adamant that he wasn’t autistic at all. He is completely nonverbal and had begun a lot of what I consider dangerous behaviors of eloping, (very quietly- thank the Lord for ring cameras and dead… read more
Embrace "good enough": Aim for presence and repair rather than perfection. Perfectionism keeps your nervous system in a constant, draining state of self-evaluation. [1] ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JImphrE37P8&... micro-breaks: Schedule 10 to 15 minutes of genuine mental off-duty time daily. Recovery restores your nervous system, which is different from sleep. [1] (https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/parent-...), [2] Simplify routines: Use predictable schedules and visual aids to cut down on daily decision fatigue for both you and your child. [1] (https://www.achievebt.com/blog/how-to-avoid-bur...). (https://popstherapy.com/autism-parent-burnout-a...), [2] (https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/parent-...
Autism Parenting Magazine
https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com
Available ServicesIn-Home ABA Therapy: Offered by providers like Best Ever ABA to help children build social, communication, and behavioral skills at home. [1] (https://www.besteveraba.com/aba-therapy-in-sout...), [2] (https://www.fullspectrumaba.com/sclocations/wes... Support: Organizations like Team PBS coordinate regional assessments and caregiving services throughout Oconee County. [1] (https://www.teampbs.com/us/en/services/caregive... Resources: The South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs provides early intervention and case management for families
Statewide Support & AdvocacySouth Carolina Autism Society (SCAS): Offers family support, educational mentoring, information and referrals, and advocacy. You can contact them through the South Carolina Autism Society or call (803) 750-6988. [1] (https://scautism.org/), [2] ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5sxrGEuf7k), [3] (https://www.lawhelp.org/sc/resource/south-carol... Connection of SC / Autism Family Support Center: Provides caregiver training and support tracks for families managing challenging behaviors or building daily living skills. [1] (https://www.familyconnectionsc.org/autism-famil... Services & Case ManagementSouth Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs (DDSN): Coordinates state-funded services, early intervention, and autism waivers.Bright Start: Provides local intake and case management services to help families connect with DDSN eligibility and support, accessible via Bright Start -(https://www.brightstartsc.com/)Regional Therapy & InterventionProject Hope Foundation: Offers pediatric therapies including occupational, physical, and speech therapy, along with early intervention networks. [1] (https://southcarolina.easterseals.com/)At-Home and Local ABA Providers: Applied Behavior Analysis therapy options are available locally in Westminster through various regional and n-home
You are doing the best you can. You only have to do that much. Don't push yourself to exhaustion or breakdown. Look after yourself as well. Everyone needs you and you can only give so much. You are doing enough
First, take a breath. What you're feeling — the guilt, the grief, the relief, and the fear all tangled together — is something so many parents of children with autism know deeply. Feeling relief after an exhausting stretch of hypervigilance doesn't make you a bad mother. It makes you human. A depleted parent can't pour from Show Full Answer
Hi! Oh wow- so you know the struggle of never finding the time to process the NICU because of the incredibly busy time you have right after. It’s so much different than bringing home a perfectly healthy baby.
We do have him in EI. It is a great program and they are helping us get into the preschool soon. I know there will be so many more surprises to come but also some many more ways to connect and accept help from different places. It’s been cool to learn about the different organizations there just to help.
My son too was a preemie and was in the Neonatal unit born at 30 weeks. At 2 he wasn't walking or talking. I had him registered with Early Intervention Services. If you haven't done this you have before he turns 5 to do this . You register with the Dept of Health. He will receive services such as speech and Physical Therapy.