A Letter From a Parent:

Dear fellow parent,

We’ve likely never met, yet we already have several things in common. You love someone with autism and you want to do whatever you can to help them reach their full potential. This journey is certainly not the easiest one, but there are many of us walking this path together. While it can be lonely at times, know that you are part of a community. We stay busy with therapy, doctors appointments, evaluations, and assessments, but when our paths cross we speak the same language and we know some things can only truly be understood by another autism parent. We recognize similarities in our kids and we’ve got lots of ideas and questions for one another. So when you see one of us waiting in a lobby, don’t be afraid to reach out!

Aside from welcoming you to our community, I also want to share with you a bit of encouragement. The autism program through LifeWays has resulted in gains for many of our children. I often hear teachers and therapists talking about the tangible improvements they see in the children they serve. I notice the growth in kids we run into at therapy, but foremost I can see it with my own son. This therapy is quite a big commitment. The schedule can be intensive and many new people will enter your lives. It will likely feel overwhelming at times and when it is, I encourage you to share it with your child’s team. This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and it evolves with you and your child. It is individualized to meet your needs and as a parent, you are an important part of the team. The therapists we work with are a wealth of knowledge and have many creative ideas so give them feedback!

LifeWays and parents collaborated to put these materials together with the hope that it would help you navigate this program. You can find lots of resources and support in here as well as answers to questions about the program. We hope that as you start down this new path, you feel welcomed and know that there are lots of reasons to be hopeful!

With all my best wishes,

Colleen Sullivan