How do you change your parenting style after the diagnosis?

[Sydelle]

Hi! My name is Sydelle Keisler, and I'm a student at the University of Chicago. My younger brother was recently diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome/high-functioning autism and I have noticed a shift in the way my parents treat him. I am currently taking a sociology class that requires a final research paper, and I have decided to do my research on parents' reactions to learning their child’s diagnosis of Aspergers syndrome or high-functioning autism and how that information may have changed the way they parent.

If you are the parent of one or more children with either Aspergers or high-functioning autism, please help me gather more information by taking my online survey (the link is at the end of this post)! It would mean the world to me, would really help me expand my knowledge, and help me complete my final project.

I have created an online survey that should take no more than 15 minutes and is anonymous. The paper that I am writing on this data will not be published anywhere, nor will your name be recorded in the responses. I would appreciate as detailed responses as you can give.

I am hoping to have all my data collected by Monday December 8 at midnight.

If you know of any other parents of children with Aspergers syndrome or high-functioning autism, I would be so grateful if you would send along my survey. I'd love as many responses I can get!

Please, please participate in this survey. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

SURVEY HERE: Parents of Children with Aspergers Syndrome or High-Functioning Autism

Warmly and with gratitude,
Sydelle

 

[AsheSkyler]

Woohoo! I was wondering when there may be an autistic parent survey someday. =D

*edit*
Nevermind. Misread it as autistic parents rather than parents with autistic kids.

 

[Sydelle]

Ahh! Sorry! I was so happy someone was so excited about my survey

 

[epath13]

Sure, why not

 

[AsheSkyler]

Ahh! Sorry! I was so happy someone was so excited about my survey

I'm a survey junkie, so I enjoy taking them regardless. My mom and I are really close, I know how things went for her with me almost as well as she does.

Although I'm thinking about trying to put together more resources for us surprisingly rare autistics that have reproduced.

 

[epath13]

I'm sorry I haven't payed attention to the name of the survey one of my kids is considered low functioning and another is high functioning. Personally, I believe both of my kids are high functioning, we just can't figure out how to bring my younger son's intelligence to the surface...

 

[photoaddict]

My son isn't diagnosed. Just strongly suspected. (Diagnosis denied based on wanting friends, specialist said everything else fit, but no autistic person would even want to have a friend.) My brother is diagnosed, but I saw little change in the way my parents handled him. They offer a little more grace now, but, otherwise, it's the same. But then, he was 19 when he was finally diagnosed.

 

[Ste11aeres]

My son isn't diagnosed. Just strongly suspected. (Diagnosis denied based on wanting friends, specialist said everything else fit, but no autistic person would even want to have a friend.)

What the heck???!

 

[photoaddict]

That's exactly what I said. I looked him in the eye and said, "then how did my brother get diagnosed when he told the psych straight up that all he wants in life is a friend?" The guy felt that my brother was likely misdiagnosed. Apparently, Aspies hate all humans and want nothing to do with them. So, with only that holding him back from an official diagnosis, I pretty much assume he's on the spectrum and parent him as such, not that my parenting was any different before, since my parenting has always been based on what works, not what I'm told to do.

 

[AsheSkyler]

My son isn't diagnosed. Just strongly suspected. (Diagnosis denied based on wanting friends, specialist said everything else fit, but no autistic person would even want to have a friend.)

With friends like these, who needs enemies?