my child has autism. now what?

Written by Jenelle McClenahen

Any parent of a child with special needs has experienced the saying, "Comparison is the thief of joy."

After years of working with children of all ages, I couldn't wait to become a mother and use my wonderful teaching strategies with my own child. I downloaded all the apps that show you what milestones your child will reach. Well, my child did not reach them. Should I just wait? How am I supposed to help? Babies and toddlers were not my expertise. Then I started comparing my child to my friends' kids who are younger and reaching milestones they are not. I thought to myself, what am I doing wrong? None of the apps taught me how to help my child, and all Google told me is that it could be autism - my biggest fear, thanks to the misrepresentation and stigma of neurodiversity.

Fast forward to the diagnosis, which left me overwhelmed and grieving, but we finally received services to help. In the meantime, almost as if fate would have it, my district began work on essential standards. My personal life and my professional life merged to create the path that would change my life forever.

I learned how to identify the most essential academic standards and break them down into measurable chunks so I could teach effectively, and our students could achieve them successfully. Likewise, in ABA therapy, I learned to focus on goals that were data-driven and attainable. I realized this formula was not limited to my child's success but every child's success.

Not only that, I finally felt successful in my ability to make a difference. I no longer felt helpless and lost, but the fruits of my labor in both motherhood and teaching were not only coming to fruition but were backed by solid data.